Thomas Douglas Appleyard

Thomas (Tom) Appleyard, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and coach, passed away Saturday, March 6, 2021. Tom was born November 21, 1948, to Thomas and Gladys Appleyard (Paul), in Rochester, New York. He was the oldest of two children, including his sister, Dianne (John) Logan.

The family moved from New York, and eventually ended up settling in Las Vegas, where Tom attended and graduated from Western High School. While there, he played on a state-champion baseball team. Tom was expected to be drafted into the major league as a junior in high school, but his father discouraged this and wanted him to wait until after his senior year. Being a player wasn’t meant to be though, as Tom became injured and took a different route; becoming a father, instead.

Tom married Linda Westrup in 1967 and shortly after, they welcomed their first of five children, twin boys: Jeffrey (Nancy) and James (Elana). The couple went on to have three more children, all daughters: Jennifer Pritchard, Jodi (Nicholas) Aiello, and Juli (Arnold) Garcia. Although the marriage ended, Tom’s love for his children never waivered.

Another thing that never waivered was Tom’s love of sports. After graduating high school, Tom went on to coach his sons’ baseball, football and basketball teams. He coached American Legion baseball at Bonanza High School from 1980-1993, winning not only a state championship (1987), but also garnering the respect from coaches and players throughout the Las Vegas Valley. In 1994, Tom began coaching for American Legion Post 76, at Durango High School. In his time as a coach, he took his teams to play in tournaments around the country to get the players exposure from other coaches. The teams also captured three more state championships (1996, 2001, and 2006). Many players from these programs went on to play in college and many were drafted. Two went on to play in the Major League.

Tom dedicated his time and his love to his family and his players. It was not uncommon for him to give advice or assistance to anyone who was in need. His heart was as big as his smile and laugh. He is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and his sister. He was preceded in death by one grandson.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for a future date.

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