Thomas Jacob Worley III

Thomas J. Worley III, 57 of Shady Point Ok passed away Tuesday Oct. 6, 2009. He was born Nov. 12, 1951 in Camp Crowder, Missouri to Thomas Jacob Worley Jr. and Hannah Edith Worley. The family settled first in Norman, OK (where his father attended the University of Oklahoma) and then to Oklahoma City in 1953 eventually having two younger sons. Tom graduated from Capitol Hill High School where he discovered a life-long passion for music regularly performing in choral groups and church choirs throughout his life. He was blessed by the birth of his daughter Rebecca Ruth Worley on Aug. 7, 1971. Tom met Kathryn Lynn Hood in Nov. 1977 and they married on Nov. 17, 1979 residing in Oklahoma City until 1993 then moving to Shady Point, OK, becoming proud members of the First Christian Church in Poteau and Tom joined the church choir. Tom shared Kathy’s love of dogs, together breeding and showing award winning white German Shepherds. Tom worked 28 years for AT&T as a Communication Service Tech until retirement in 2006. Following retirement from AT&T he was employed by Exterran, and Service Compression. Tom was a fervent sports fan and especially passionate about OU Football with his earliest memories those of witnessing the Sooners record 47 game winning streak from 1953 to 1957. Being an avid classic car enthusiast, he enjoyed building, owning and showing various 70’s model muscle cars. The most important part of Tom’s life was his devotion to and enjoyment of his cherished family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father Thomas Jacob Worley Jr. and survived by beloved wife, Kathryn (Hood)Worley of Shady Point; treasured daughter, Rebecca (Worley)Elrod of OKC; mother, Hannah Worley of OKC; brothers, John Worley & wife Sherry of Princeton, TX, William Worley & wife Erin of Yukon, OK; Granddaughters, Tara Elrod and Heaven Elrod of OKC, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family including John & Barbara (Hood)Garrard, Ralph & Debbie Hood, Bobby & Laura Anderson and Rick & Jamie Johnston. The Worley’s will greet friends and family Friday evening from 6-8:00pm at Evans & Miller Funeral Homes - 411 Dewey – Poteau, OK. Services will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 at 2:00pm at First Christian Church – 208 N. Witte – Poteau, OK. Interment will be Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 at 11:00am in Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma City.