Funeral services will be held at 1pm Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the Hampton Vaughn Crestview Funeral Home Chapel in Wichita Falls Texas. Visitation will be held Friday January 15, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm.
Tom was born on December 26, 1942 in Vallejo, California. A few years later his family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he grew up, graduated high school and went on to attend the University of Wyoming. While in college, Tom met and married his first wife, Frances Gurney. Together they raised three wonderful children. Upon graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Tom chose to serve his country and entered the United States Air Force, where he would honorably serve in the medical readiness field. After serving the Air Force for 27 years and rising to the rank of Colonel, he retired in 1991. His distinguished military career took him around the world and after his retirement he elected to make Wichita Falls his home.
In 1986, Tom married Shirley “Pat” Willis. Together, in their retirement they took their love of antiques and turned it into a very successful business. Through their business, Tom and Pat developed many close and personal friendships with their customers whom they loved dearly. Sadly, Tom lost Pat to cancer in 2008.
It was in Tom’s golden years that he met and quickly fell in love with Kathleen Rice O’Brien. After their marriage in 2011, Tom and Katie embarked on their “bucket list” adventures by cruising throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. Together, they also visited many of our nation’s most famous landmarks to include Yosemite National Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil’s Tower and the ole famous Sturgis, South Dakota. In recent years, Tom enjoyed a quiet life with his beloved wife, Katie and their many fur babies.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Forister; children, Phil Forister and his wife Kristi, Pat Forister, Liz Renfroe and her husband Ron, Melanie Kurtz and her husband Ricke, Marla O’Brien, Michael O’Brien and Daniel O’Brien; grandchildren Joseph Ramirez and his wife Christian, Bradley Kurtz, Justin Forister, Bailey Kurtz, Joshua Forister, Bryson Renfroe, great grandson, Joseph Thomas Ramirez; sister Linda Adams and numerous fur babies.
Tom was proceeded in death by his parents Jim and Elinor Viersen, his brother, Dennis Forister and his second wife, Shirley “Pat” Forister.
Tom was very blessed to add several “kids” to his family at various stages throughout his life. He treated and loved every one of those “kids” as if they were his very own. For that, they are all eternally grateful. The kids would also like to extend a very sincere thank you to Katie for filling Tom’s golden years with meaning, purpose and most importantly love.
Family and friends are invited to share thoughts and memories on line at hamptonvaughancrestview.com
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