Thomas Hall Bernhardt

Thomas Hall Bernhardt, 61, formerly of Wallowa, Oregon, passed away Friday, August 19, 2022, at his home in St. Paul. Tom was born in La Grande, Oregon on May 25,1961 to Johnny and Edna Mae (Burress) Bernhardt. He was a 1979 graduate of La Grande High School, where his larger-than-life personality made him a standout in the classroom, athletics and as a friend to all. Tom excelled on the football field and his hard hitting, never quit playing, earned him a place on the 1979 Shriner's Football Team. Tom loved the outdoors from an early age and spent most of his youth and adult years planning the next hunt, many times with lifelong friends. A year after graduating, Tom moved to the Grand Junction/Fruita, Colorado area, with a group of close friends to work on the pipeline. After returning home, he worked in logging and various mill jobs to purchase land and cattle, a lifelong dream of his. Tom settled in Wallowa County, cowboying for local the ranchers and adding cattle to his herd, year by year. Tom was a cowboy at heart and his time in the saddle on Smith Mountain found him at The Hill Top House, when the boys were in town. That's where he first met the McKillip Family. Never one to shy away from a good time, that big personality soon became a regular with the hunting crew, where he noticed a picture from that summer. When they informed him that it was their sister in the picture he replied, “Oh... you never told me you had a sister!” Off to the St. Paul Rodeo, the fun-loving, single guy went, where he met the love of his life, Shelly McKillip, in 1993. They married in 1997, built a home on Diamond Prairie and where their only son, Will, was born in 1999. In 2015, they sold their ranch and moved to St. Paul, to get the help they needed with his Early Onset Alzheimer's diagnosis and to be closer to their grandchildren. Tommy loved thunderstorms, fireworks, and a beautiful sunset. His roaring laugh and teasing nature will be remembered by all, especially his hospice gals, Heidi and Malia. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Brenda Bomberger. He is survived by his wife Shelly and son, Will Bernhardt of St. Paul; daughters Jayme Fair of Newberg, Stacie Price of St. Paul and Katy (Miles) Baker of Newberg; nine grandchildren, Alexa, Tristan (Paige), Jezzie, Jillian, Camden, Johnny, Chloe, Natalie and Isabele (his partner in crime), and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and close friends. A Celebration of Life will be September 24, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. on Smith Mountain in Wallowa, OR where he married his bride 25 years ago. Donations in Tom's name can be sent to Wallowa School District, PO Box 425, Wallowa, OR97885 for help with the recent hailstorm recovery for victims/students or Brighton Hospice, 8050 SW Warm Springs St., Ste. 205, Tualatin, OR 97062. Arrangements by Attrell's Funeral Chapel. Please leave a message of condolence for the family.

Thomas Hall Bernhardt

May 25, 1961 - August 15, 2022