Thomas Olen Flournoy

Thomas was born March 2, 1924, as the tenth child of William G. Flournoy and Bertha E. Nolen Flournoy, a family of two girls and eight boys. Thomas attended North Elementary, Midland Junior High and Midland High School before dropping out his senior year to join World War II. Being from a home of humble means, his family encouraged him to get a job early in life. He had the pleasure of working his first job at the Midland Reporter Telegram delivering newspapers on his bicycle. He eventually upgraded to a Model T Ford and enjoy delivering newspapers from his new ride!

Tommy also delivered for a pharmacy in which he got to ride a 3-wheeled Harley-Davidson motorcycle all day. What a job! He also worked for Superior Oil, a local movie theater as well as a furniture retail store. And that was all before he turned 18. One of the memories he spoke of the most was he was working for the Midland Reporter Telegram when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He'll never forget being called in to announce the unprecedented, historical moment by running up and down the streets of Midland TX hollering “EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! JAPS BOMB PEARL HARBOR!”

Tommy felt the call to duty and enlisted in the US Army. He served from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific theater serving in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. His duty station was aboard a US Navy supply ship as a signalman to communicate between ships mainly using lights and Morse code. Tommy enjoyed the time he got to spend in the Hawaiian Islands and always wished he could have returned one day. He and three of his brothers served in World War II and thankfully all came home safely.

After the war he returned to his hometown of Midland TX where he worked many jobs including bus driving, being a chauffeur, managed a bowling alley and installed flooring. He also ventured out and opened his own business with his brothers named Floor-noy flooring. All the while enjoying life to its fullest including playing tennis for fun, and bowling in a league! While he was bowling one day, he met the love of his life, Jacquelyn Shumate and they eventually married on July 27th, 1962. Over the next few years of being around 2 of their best bowling friends, Doc & Peggy Tibbets, they introduced them to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, started taking lessons from the missionaries and eventually joined the Church. The Church became the foundation for the Flournoy family rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ. Thomas was active in his church for over 50 years. He served many different positions as well as repairman for the building at one point. He became an endowed member of his church and is a devoted son of God.

Thomas was a devoted and loving Husband and Father! Thomas and Jackie brought 2 young boys into the marriage, his “little boy” Don, and her son Mark. Tommy and Jackie went on to have two preemie babies that didn't live for more than a day. A good doctor friend of the family, Doc Tibbitts, figured out why she was having problems carrying babies to term, with a few stitches, fixed the problem and were able to have 4 children: Tiffany, Burton, Cassie and Randall. Tommy was a fun dad, liked to take them to play tennis, to get ice cream, and ride bikes. Thomas worked hard every day but always found time once a week to spend a Monday evening with his kiddos.

While the children were young, Thomas decided to stop working for the Sears Tower downtown and open his own handyman company called Home and Office Repair. Thomas became the guy you called to fix anything. Heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, appliances... you name it that man could fix it! Often Tommy would provide repairs for trade or for free as a service to others.

This allowed his lovely wife and mother of his children to stay home and raise them. Although they lived just as he was raised on very humble means they never acted like it. Thomas and Jackie have always been grateful for what they had and always tried to be of service.

Thomas was a Constitutionalist. He got into the political scene and ran a grassroots campaign for Midland city mayor in 1998! He was devoted to getting all of our government leaders to, in his own words, “honor their oath of office”! He would spend many late-night hours typing letters to his congressmen, senators, Mayor, Editors, Presidents and anyone else who would listen about the Constitution, the value of what's written in it, and how they're not following it!

Tommy saw our country in distress, and he acted on it. He decided that he was going to fly his flag upside down as it is written in the flag code to signal for distress. It was his way of demonstrating that he felt his country was in trouble and lost its way. No doubt he got plenty of attention positive and negative from many people but he was never shy to stand for our country and his strong belief that “Honesty is the ONLY policy”.

In 2014, Tommy was escorted to Washington D.C. to see the memorials specifically the World War II memorial that was built in honor of him and his fellow servicemen. The Permian Basin Honor Flight was absolutely one of the most memorable experiences he had in his later life. He was escorted by his two daughters Tiffany and Cassie. When he returned, he stated “I have been to a lot of places, seen a lot of things, however nothing can compare to that marvelous, stupendous, colossal, beautiful, awesome, fantastic or any or all other appropriate adjectives anyone would care to include in an attempt to describe my feeling concerning that unforgettable trip to Washington D.C. This Permian Basin Honor Flight for Veterans is a most worthy cause for philanthropist to fund and all Veterans that are able to do so should make the trip!”

Thomas always said he would live to be 100 years old! Never hesitated saying it! And while he only made it 10 days short of 98, he lived those years the way he wanted, enjoyed every minute of it, and passed the way he wanted. You just can't ask for a better life than that!

Thomas is preceded in death by: his parents William & Bertha Flournoy, his 2 sisters Bessie Barber & Bertha Harding, his 7 brothers, Baby, William, Fred, Everett, Francis, Alfred & Claude. Also, his 3 sons, Burton Thomas, William Nolan & Burton William and his 2 grandsons, Alexander Geisendorff & Bryce Nettles.

Thomas is survived by: his wife Jacquelyn Flournoy of Midland, his two daughters Tiffany Geisendorff of Sealy TX & Cassie (Nettles) Gerety and husband James of Midland TX. His three sons Donothan Flournoy and wife Maria of Midland, Mark Flournoy of Paint Rock TX, and Randall Flournoy and wife Kristi of Midland. 15 Grandchildren David Sigel, Dawn Flournoy Davis, William Flournoy, Paul Flournoy, Carrie Smith, Christon Flournoy, Caylie Geisendorff, Victoria Herig, Renee Nettles, Lyn (Nettles) Sellers, Rilea Flournoy, and Barrett Flournoy. In addition, 13 great grandchildren with two more on the way and 5 great-great grandchildren.

The Viewing will be Thursday from 6-8pm at Ellis Funeral home at 801 Andrews Hwy in Midland TX

Funeral service will be Friday February 25th @ 11:00am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2101 Tarleton St also in Midland. Directly following is the graveside service at 1pm at Resthaven Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ellisfunerals.com for the Flournoy family.