Thomas J. "Jiggs" Singley

Thomas J. "Jiggs" Singley, age 94, died peacefully on Monday, the 8th of April 2013, at the Gardens of Bellaire (formerly Brighton Gardens) in Bellaire, where he had been a resident for 10 years. He was born in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, on the 3rd of February 1919.

Jiggs’ core value in life was his love of and commitment to his family. Throughout his life, his family always came first. His greatest pleasure was when all the family gathered together, visiting, laughing and talking. His joy to the end was to be right in the middle of all of his family.

He was a big Oklahoma Sooners fan, and loved to watch and talk about the Sooners’ football team. A big part of his wardrobe consisted of the Sooners red and white colors.

Jiggs was very proud of his 38 years of service with Baker Oil Tools, Inc., where he was a Manager of Baker’s Eastern Division in Illinois. In his later years with Baker, he managed one of Baker’s then newly-acquired businesses. Jiggs built up that business, managing contracts throughout the world. He retired from Baker in 1986 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Jiggs moved to Houston in 1996. He had many happy years in Houston with his son, daughter-in-law, and many neighbors on North Boulevard. Following a stroke in 2003, he moved to the Gardens of Bellaire.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Avis Singley. He is survived by his son, Thomas Singley, and wife, Anne; his daughter, Carolyn Sue Gentry; 5 grandchildren, Michael Singley, and wife, Vanderlyn; Christopher Singley, and wife, Stella; Danny Singley, and wife, Celenie; Joey Gentry, and wife, Zoe; and Julie Ayers; and 7 great-grandchildren, Emily Ayers, Jackson Singley, Sophia Singley, Julia Gentry, Hunter Singley, Benjamin Singley, and Jack Gentry.

The family particularly wishes to thank the Assisted Living staff at the Gardens of Bellaire for the loving care given to Jiggs over the years.

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Jiggs from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 19th of April, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

Jiggs was a great dog-lover. In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to, Frisky Paws, www.friskypawsrescue.org, 206 Glenwood Dr., Houston, TX 77007.