Thomas Roy Gilcrest

Thomas Roy Gilcrest, 69, passed away unexpectedly on January 17, 2019 at his home in Leawood, Kansas. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 25 at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri. The visitation is at 2:00 p.m., service at 3:00 p.m. Kansas University Jayhawk shirts or Hawaiian shirts are the suggested attire. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to Foster Adopt/Connect, 18600 E. 37th Terrace S., Independence, MO 64057.

He grew up in Liberal, Kansas where he graduated from high school. Debate and Forensics were activities in which he excelled and where he won many tournaments at the regional and state meets.

At the University of Kansas, Tom earned a degree in chemistry and biology. While at KU, he worked at the chemistry lab and later learned that the project he was involved with created the heat tiles that were used on the space shuttles.

Tom was once described by a colleague as a “Renaissance Man” as his creativity coupled with his intellect when solving problems allowed him know what questions to ask rather than to know the answers. He held a number of positions in construction management, and retired after 31 years from Blue Scope Construction (formerly known as Butler Buildings) as the Direction of Design Build Services.

Tom was a world-class foodie and an excellent chef. He took great pleasure in cooking for dinner parties and special events, or sharing baked treats at committee or board meetings. For his daughter Jeslyn’s eighth birthday party, he prepared and served with great flourish a formal dinner to her guests in his tuxedo. Requiring only the highest quality meats and freshest vegetables, he became known as “Every Day Tom” as his last stop of the day was always at McGonigle's Market.

His other passion was serving on the board of FosterAdopt Connect, an organization devoted to making a difference for kids who have endured trauma. He did everything in his power in big and little ways to promote this organization that was so dear to his heart.

A dream was finally realized in 2015 when Tom and his wife Telia purchased a summer home in Grand Lake, Colorado. He loved fishing in the mountains and felt such peace enjoying the scenery from the balcony of their home.

He shared his joyful outlook - always excited to tell new stories, cheesy jokes, and tales from his past life when he was a rambunctious youth—like the time at a pig roast when he accidently blew up the pig! When Tom’s daughter Jeslyn brought her first boyfriend home to meet him, he was sitting at the dining room table casually polishing his World War II vintage Japanese sword.

Tom was funny, cheerful, loved telling bad jokes, and laughed at himself when he was “the joke.” He often bragged about being an “over-achiever in marriage and fatherhood”.

He is survived by his wife and companion of 34 years, Telia and daughter Jeslyn of Denver, Colorado; Tammy and James Bunney, sister and brother-in-law of Garden City, Kansas; Jill Bunny and Sean Day, niece and nephew-in-law and their children Alexandra and Joshua Day of Los Altos, California, Cousins David and Eric Kintigh and familes of The Woodlands, Texas. Tom was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Sarah Gilcrest and his younger brother Jim Gilcrest.