Thomas William Tally

Thomas William Tally, 92, of Roland, Oklahoma, passed from this life May 12, 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born October 25, 1922, in Wynona, Oklahoma to John Phillip and Alice Wadman Tally. Tom graduated from Avant High School in 1941 and immediately enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He was veteran of World War II, serving in the Fiji Islands, with the 70th Fighter Squadron. On December 17, 1945, he married Wilma Cooper, in Independence, Kansas and went to work at the Tulsa Stockyards. In 1947, Tom and Wilma moved to Fort Smith, where Tom went to work as a livestock order-buyer for the Fort Smith Stockyards. He was with the Fort Smith Stockyards for 50 plus years, retiring in his 80’s. When Tom was not at the stockyards, he loved to spend his free time fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Wilma Tally; two sons, Thomas Keith Tally and his wife Karen, of Van Buren, Arkansas and Phillip Dean Tally and his wife Linda, of Blackgum, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Kent, Kim, Zach, Landon, Spencer and Emily; five great grandchildren; a brother in law, Winford Cooper of Skiatook, Oklahoma and a sister in law, Gayle Cooper of Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Phillip and his sister, Corrine.

Funeral services will be 2:00pm Friday, May 15, 2015 in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be 11:00am Monday, May 18, 2015 at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith with military honors. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00pm Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and the men from the Fort Smith Stockyard will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Arkansas Regional Center, 2408 South 51st Street, Suite F, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903.

To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.