He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Bobbie Huston Sallis; a daughter, Jessica Sallis of Rogers; and a son and daughter-in-law, Jordan and Valerie Sallis, of Springdale. He is also survived by his brother, Steven Sallis, of Bellevue, WA; his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and David Cagle, of Pocola, Oklahoma; and a brother, Michael Sallis, of Fort Smith. He will be especially missed by his cousin, Scott McCoubrey of Fort Smith, and a host of friends.
Tom was a graduate of St. Anne’s Academy, Fort Smith Junior College, Arkansas Tech, and Sparks Regional Medical Center’s School of Medical Technology. He further studied to receive a specialty in hematology. Upon graduation, he was hired by Sparks where he worked in the laboratory for 25 years, then, transferred to the Information Technology department, where he completed his 43 year career at Sparks Hospital. He retired as the director of IT, in 2015. While working in the lab and in IT, his priority was always patient care. Sparks was his home away from home.
At the age of 23, realizing his need for a Savior and Lord, he gave his life to Christ. He served the Lord faithfully in almost every capacity from working with preschoolers to teaching junior high boys for 17 years, singing in the choir, teaching an adult co-ed Sunday school class, serving as a deacon for many years and, recently, as chairman of the deacons. He studied God’s word voraciously and shared what he had learned with all. He loved his church family at Oak Cliff Baptist.
Visitation will be 5:30pm till 7pm on Monday, the 13th of August at Edwards Funeral Home. Service will be held at Oak Cliff Baptist Church, 3701 South Gary, Fort Smith, at 2pm, on Tuesday, the 14th of August, with burial to follow at Oak Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jon Deaver, Justin Douglas, Randall Hinton, Scott McCoubrey, Mike Sallis, Jordan Sallis, Mike Smith, and Phil Whitten, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers include Dr. John Kientz, Jerry Hanson, Troy Douglas, and the deacon body of Oak Cliff Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Tom’s honor to The Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 6062, Fort Smith, AR, 72906-6062 or Oak Cliff Baptist Church, 3701 S. Gary, Fort Smith, AR. 72903.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
