Thomas Millard Gattle Sr.

Thomas (Tom) Millard Gattle, Sr., 91, died peacefully in his home in Naples, Florida on October 23, 2016. Tom was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 22, 1924 as the only child of Virginia Taylor and Otto Gattle. While he spent his winters in Cincinnati, followed by Miami, he cherished each summer in northern Michigan. As a boy, summer months were enjoyed on Crooked Lake in Oden where he met his first wife, Margaret Hartman. Tom and Margaret lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and continued the tradition of Michigan summers in Bay View, outside of Petoskey with their four children.

Tom completed high school at the Kentucky Military Academy and earned a degree in business at Indiana University in 1948. During his college years he attended the auxiliary naval officer-training program, serving in the Navy in World War II in the Pacific.


Tom began his career with his father in the family business, Gattle’s Inc., a chain of high-end specialty retail stores focused on fine linens, which was established in 1904 by Tom’s grandmother, Henrietta Gattle. Under Tom’s leadership, Gattle’s Inc. grew to ten locations throughout Florida and in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Petoskey. The store in Naples on Third Street South, was established in 1964 and is one of the city’s longest standing retail operations.

Tom met his beloved wife, Constance (Connie) Van Voast, in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1974. They were drawn together by their love for family, tennis, sailing, friends and laughter, and celebrated 35 years of marriage.

Tom was known for his broad smile, warmth and charm. He never knew a stranger and was quick to strike up a conversation, always asking others about themselves.

Tom is survived by and will be deeply missed by his wife, Connie, and his children, Thomas (Edna) Gattle, Jr., Glenna (Burton) Atkinson, Kim (Carter Wolf) Gattle and William (Susan) Gattle and his step sons, Stephen (Barbara) Van Voast and Zachary (Marian) VanVoast. His step-daughter Cynthia Van Voast Frye preceded him in death.

His fourteen grandchildren and his thirteen great-grandchildren have cherished time with their Papa Tom, which he shared with great love.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial visitation at the Hodges Funeral Home, 525 111th Avenue, North, Naples, Florida from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, October 29, 2016.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Tom’s honor may be made to The Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 583, Petoskey, Michigan 49770 or https://www. bayviewassociation.org/make-a- donation-42/