Thomas J. Coit, 72
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 weeks, 2 days AGO
Coit
Dec. 26, 1952 – Oct. 23, 2025
Thomas J. Coit, 72, of St. Maries, Idaho, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones Oct. 23, 2025. He was born Dec. 26, 1952, in Summerville, Mass., to Donald and Janet (Matheson) Coit.
The Coit family lived in the Boston area until Tom was 9, then moved to Rowland Heights, Calif. Tom attended high school but left in the 12th grade to work on oil rigs. For several years, he worked for BF Goodrich.
Tom met the love of his life, Carlene Fields, through a mutual friend, and the two soon became inseparable. They moved to Pine River, Minn., and were married in Walker, Minn., in 1979. The couple later settled in Eagan, Minn., where Tom built a successful career as a sales and delivery route driver for three companies, including RC Cola, Very Fine Juice, and Millstone Coffee.
In 1993, Tom and Carlene relocated to the Coeur d’Alene/Hayden area to be closer to St. Maries, where they purchased a piece of riverfront property on the St. Joe River to enjoy family time. Tom began a 21-year career in advertising and marketing with the Coeur d’Alene Press, retiring in 2016. A year later, Carlene joined him in retirement, and they made their home in St. Maries, where they remodeled Carlene’s childhood home.
Tom enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing, boating and coaching his children’s sports teams. A lifelong Vikings fan, he also loved classic cars — especially his 1959 Ford Galaxy retractable hardtop — and attending car shows. He found great joy in helping raise his grandchildren, hosting family gatherings at the river lot and traveling with Carlene to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, New Orleans and Honduras.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carlene, of St. Maries; children Angela (Ronnie) High of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Jason (Kara) Nordin of Eagan, Minn.; and TJ Coit III of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Lloyd Lovering, Janet Olhausen, John Lovering and Elsie Enrico.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Eagles Lodge in St. Maries, Idaho. A meal and gathering of family and friends will follow.
You may visit Tom’s online tribute and share condolences with the family at hodgefuneralhome.com.