Thomas "Tom" Harry Passingham

On April 25, 2026 at McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital, Thomas Harry Passingham, 85, of North Branch went to be with His Lord, Jesus Christ. Tom was born February 18, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan to Harry Edward Passingham and Sally Ethel (Diller) Passingham. He married Mary Ellen (Hutton) McLaughlin on April 11, 1970 in North Branch and divorced in 1974 and remarried July 2, 1977 in Lapeer.

He taught 7th & 8th grades for North Branch Area Schools (Jan. 24, 1966-June 10, 1996) and Adult/Alternative Education (Sept. 1984-Sept. 2003). He also taught Driver Education for North Branch (1967-74), for Kingston (1970-71), for Lakeville (1975) and Lapeer (1976-77).  Tom was a member of the North Branch Education Association, Inc and served as president (1971-72 & 1975-79), chief negotiator (1970-72) and treasurer (1979-1992). He was elected to serve Deerfield township, Lapeer County in November 2000 and served one four year term as trustee.

The 7th great-grandmother of Tom was Sarah (Moore) Michener. She was raised by William Penn and was married May 6, 1686 in his home in England to John Michener.

Tom is survived by his four step-children, Rose McKelvey, William (Cindy) McLaughlin, John (Robin) McLaughlin, Katherine June, also survived by his siblings, Carole May Stevens, Sally Kay Boring, Michael Dean Passingham Sr, Marguery Lynn Thompson, sister-in-law, Sharon Lynn Passingham, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 1 aunt, 1 uncle, many cousins and great nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank Passingham (1953), Grace (Seick) Passingham (1971), Melvin Diller (1971), Ethel (Lennox) Diller (1981), his father, Harry Passingham (1966), his mother, Sally (Diller) Passingham (2000), his wife Mary Ellen (2017),  brother, Frank Passingham (1971) and a grandson, Craig Walker Jr (1999), brother-in-law, Keith Boring (2018).

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Paradise Animal Rescue, 2266 N. Lapeer Road, Lapeer, MI,48446.

The family will be present for visitation on Friday, May 1, 2026, 12:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. at Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home, 4216 Huron Street, North Branch, MI, 48461 with funeral service to follow at 4:00 P.M.  Pastor Josh Gates will officiate. Tom will be laid to rest at Dawn Memorial next to his wife on May 4, 2026.

You may share an online condolences and memories of Tom to the family at www.blackburnchapel.

Arrangements by Blackburn Chapel-Martin Funeral Home

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