LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Thomas Clyde Blavet Sr. of Kelseyville died on Friday, May 2, following a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old.

Tom was born on Dec. 23, 1944, in Duluth, Minn., to Frank Peter Blavet and Florence Mary (Prudhomme) Blavet, who together raised six children.

He attended Duluth Cathedral High School. While Tom was in high school, his father spent nearly a year working in construction in Greenland, leaving Tom and his mother to run two gas stations they owned in Duluth.

Tom graduated from high school in 1962 at age 17. At that time, his entire family relocated to Southern California.

While only 17 years old, Tom entered the military, serving in the US Army from 1962 to 1965, then completing his reserve obligation in 1968.

He served in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs and later went to Vietnam. Being a Green Beret and in Special sorces, Tom was somewhat daring and often volunteered for special missions, for which he received honors for sacrificial and valorous service.

During his service, he completed a military justice course. Following honorable discharge from the military, Tom worked as a motorcycle police officer in Los Angeles from 1967 to 1971. His work included covering major events from the East L.A. riots to the Malibu fires.

During this time, Tom attended college in Los Angeles, receiving an associate's degree in 1970 with a major in police science.

He also obtained his Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) certificates, took advanced training for sexual assault crimes investigation, and completed an advanced academy on child abuse. In addition, he was a SWAT team member.

After relocating to Northern California, from 1972 to 1975 Tom attended Humboldt State University. He moved to Sonoma County and obtained his bachelor of arts degree in business management in 1976. He completed 12 units in Sonoma State University's Master's Program in Public Administration.

Tom received a lifetime vocational teaching credential for the State of California as well as a community college lifetime teaching credential.

In Northern California he continued to work in law enforcement for approximately one year in Mendocino County and three years in Humboldt County as a deputy sheriff.

While he was a deputy sheriff in Humboldt County, Tom was a field training officer, range master and a member of the SWAT team. He also lectured at law enforcement classes.

In 1975, Tom moved to Sonoma County. He attended Sonoma State University, and worked various jobs due to the economy: including campus peace officer, a licensed milk pasteurizer and also as a truck driver. From 1977 to 2007, Tom worked as a real estate broker.

In 2005, while dating Suzanne Bettencourt-Crouch, he obtained employment with the County of Lake, originally as a code enforcement officer and then later as a building inspector and storm water/grading inspector.

In 2006, Tom sold his ranch in Sonoma County, moved to Lake County and purchased the old Gaddy Ranch. That same year, he and Suzanne were married.

Tom always put family and family activities first. Those who knew him best called him “Tom Terrific” for his sense of fun, his fearlessness and love of those around him.

His hobbies and interests included working on the ranch, riding his Harley, horseback riding, going to the movies, playing lots of jokes on lots of people, creative cooking, reading the newspaper and watching many sports events on TV.

Taking Suzanne dancing was another favorite activity. Tom had always loved to dance, and once when still a teenager in Southern California he managed to win the dance contest on one episode of “American Bandstand.”

He enjoyed attending St. Peter's Catholic Church and visiting with many friends each Sunday.

He was a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge and the Lake County Passion Play.

Tom is preceded in death by parents Frank and Florence Blavet.

He is survived by wife, Suzanne Blavet; children, Michael ( Julie) Blavet of Santa Rosa, Denise (Todd) Wolmuth of Santa Rosa, David Whittier of Shasta Lake, Christina (DJ) Aragon of Bend, Ore., Daniel (Zoila) Crouch of Ukiah, Thomas Blavet Jr. of Happy Valley, Ore., and Frankie Blavet of Tracy; Uncle Bert and Aunt Maureen Prudhomme of Colorado Springs, Colo.; former spouses Virginia Meyer of Sebastopol and Margie Rudich of Portland, Ore.; and grandchildren, Britney, Jessica, Ashley, Hannah, Caryn, Cameron, Dylan and Skyller.

He also is survived by brothers and sisters, Barbara (John) Lunda of St. Paul, Minn.; Sr. Mary Florence of Kearney, Neb.; Michelle (Bill) Corbin of Los Alamitos; Mark (Catherine) Blavet of Tampa, Fla.; and Glen (Arlene) Blavet of San Marcos. Tom also leaves behind more than 50 nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Father Oscar Diaz will officiate at a funeral Mass at noon on Friday, May 9, at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 801 N. Main St., in Lakeport. A viewing will take place before the Mass from 10 a.m. to noon.

Following the funeral service there will be a procession to St. Mary's Cemetery on Highway 175 for a graveside service, which will include a Military Honors service by the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team.

A reception will follow at St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church's parish hall, located next to the church on N. Main Street.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Tom's name would be appreciated to the Lake County Passion Play, P.O. Box 386, Lakeport, CA 95453, telephone 707-279-0349; or to the American Legion Tredway Post No. 194, P.O. Box 411, Kelseyville, CA 95451.