Dr. Timothy Currier Comings, age 75, of French Camp, MS, was welcomed into Glory on Friday evening, Sept. 18, at his home, surrounded by his family. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma in May.
He was born March 26, 1951, in Sidney, NY, a son of Philip C. and Pauline (Poole) Comings, and grew up with his four siblings on Comyncroft, the family farm in Coventryville, NY. He graduated from Afton (NY) Central School in 1969 and attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he studied animal science before graduating from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977. During his undergraduate years he was part of the crew team and he also studied at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland for a year.
He married Leslie Anne King on June 22, 1974, at Bethel Grove Bible Church in Ithaca, NY. They celebrated 52 years of marriage this year.
During his school and university years he spent 10 years at Camp Oswegatchie in
Croghan, NY, as a counselor, assistant director and finally director. The camp is now known as the Oswegatchie Educational Center, owned and operated by the New York State FFA Leadership Training Foundation Inc. He was a member of the Foundation board for many years.
Following graduation from vet school he joined a practice in Fort Plain, NY, for four
years, then bought a large-animal veterinary business in Cato, NY, where he practiced from 1981 until 2007.
Dr. Comings served as chairman of the board for Faith Heritage School, Syracuse, from 1996 to 2001. He was an active member of Cato Christian Church, formerly Cato Union Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as an elder. He and Leslie were active in International Friendship Evangelism at Syracuse University and hosted “The Day the World Comes to Cato” for many years. He was a volunteer counselor for the Billy Graham Crusade and the Luis Palau Festival in Syracuse, and sang in the crusade choir.
Tim served the Lord by being a willing worker wherever he was needed, which
included many mission trips to Mexico, to Ukraine, and to Beautiful Feet Ministries in Fort Worth, TX. He volunteered on reconstruction teams following Hurricane Andrew in Florida, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, LA, and the tornado that tore through Rolling Fork, MS. He was known for driving nonstop to get to where he needed to be.
After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, he closed his veterinary practice and the Comings moved to French Camp, MS, in July 2007. There he served as a dorm dad at French Camp Academy and worked in its maintenance department until a few months before his death. His aim was to serve his Lord as long as he could and to “die in the harness.”
Tim was an active member of Pine Lake Church in Starkville, MS, since 2014. He and Leslie volunteered as premarital counselors, and Tim worked at the church’s Care Center twice a month, giving out food, sharing the Gospel and offering counsel. He had a true servant’s heart. He was a people person, and he loved traveling, woodworking, fishing, camping, and telling his many stories.
In addition to his wife, Leslie, he is survived by his beloved children and
grandchildren: Alison (Comings) and Alex Russell, and granddaughters Eowyn and
Brooke Russell, California; Ian Comings, Texas; and Marianne (Comings) and Sean
Butler, and grandsons Timothy and Michael Butler, New York. He is also survived by a brother, Patrick Comings, North Carolina; a sister and her husband, Laurie (Comings) and Stephen Jones, New York; a sister and her husband, Deborah (Comings) and Timothy Vroman, New York; a sister-in-law and her husband, Suzanne King and Dominique Pelletier, Montreal, Quebec; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Gregory King and Sharon Cotterell, Bennington, Vermont; as well as two aunts and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Richard Cutting; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Comings.
A Celebration of Life will begin with a visitation hour at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, followed by the service at 2 p.m., all at the French Camp Presbyterian Church. In recognition of his proud Scottish heritage, the bagpipes will play “Amazing Grace.”
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Pinelake Church Care Center, 200 Hwy 25, Starkville, MS 39759; Beautiful Feet Ministries, PO Box 6212, Fort Worth, TX 76115, or online at beautiful-feet-ministries; or to French Camp Academy Missions, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745.
So sorry for your loss. It is a pleasure to know and work with Tim and Leslie at Oswegatchie.
Kevin Bemis
It was truly a joy and a privilege to work as Camp Director under Tim’s guidance and supervision in 1977. I always thought it was quite the coincidence that he would practice in Cato where i first taught Ag in 66-69. We will celebrate together one day the greatness and Grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Leslie, I wish I could be in person to hug you at Tim’s Celebration of Life tomorrow. You were both
special friends to me while we taught side by side at Faith Heritage. Tim’s concern for the teachers
and staff, while on the FH Board, did not go unnoticed. Much love to all of you: Leslie, Alison, Ian,
and Marianne. May the memories of your husband and father remind you of the Christian heritage he has left for his family.
Leslie, Alison, Marianne and Ian, I wish I could be closer to hug you.
A very dear friend has parted and I treasure loving memories of so many times we spent together.
I love you and pray for all of you.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Love always, in the name of Jesus.
Amen
I covered for my pastor today, and gave the morning message. I talked about the symbols used in the FFA emblem, and later talked about Numbers 21: 4-9, which details today’s medical emblem of a staff and a serpent wrapped around it. I had mentioned that the emblem could be found in the back of any farm visiting veterinarian, and to be honest, I was remembering “Doc” Comings’ Chevy truck that he used to visit my parent’s farm in Cato, NY. “Doc” saved a number of calves and cows for my dad, and he was always willing to teach us something new in how to help treat cows. I remember if “Doc” visited your farm during December, he would kindly give you a quart of maple syrup that his family had made, and passed it on to you as a warm gesture of the Christmas season, always better to give. I remember he came to my FFA class and talked to everyone about not only being a vet, but how to be upright, and successful in life. I remember him vividly telling us to “find a job the you like, a job that you enjoy, and a job inwhich a computer can’t replace you.”
He was more than gracious to help me when I knocked on the door of his house selling citrus, trying to raise funds so that my class could attend the National FFA convention in Kansas City. He invited me in, and we had a wonderful chat of when he was in the FFA.
I remember “Doc” as an elder in the Cato Union Church, and partaking in the sacrement of Communion. He was a loving husband, a family man, and a man of God. I remember recieving the news that he was ending his veterinary practice and moving. We were deeply saddened, as was most of the residents of the little town of Cato. Though I am shocked at his passing, I know, we will meet again.
My deepest thoughts and condolences to the Comings Family. I’ll pray for you all.