Tommy G Donoho

Tommy Gerald Donoho passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loving family, on February 22, 2022. Tommy was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 7, 1926 to Riley Nolan and Tippie Beatrice Donoho. He spent part of his childhood in Batesville, and then later his family moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas.

As a young man, Tommy was a loyal friend, a hilarious prankster, and a star athlete earning many accolades in football, baseball, and track and field. After his college days as a Razorback football player, Tommy married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann Alexander. Together, they made a home in Fort Smith and had two children – Tommy Gerald Donoho, Jr. (“Jerry”) and Nancy Leigh Donoho.

Tommy enjoyed a long, successful career in mortgage banking, insurance, and other aspects of real estate development through a variety of family business ventures, primarily Donoho & Sons, Inc. Tommy was an active volunteer and leader in many community efforts, including the Fort Smith Baseball Church League, The Girls Club, Hardscrabble Country Club, among others. Tommy loved playing Gin Rummy, Bridge, and golf with his many friends. He loved the horse races and traveling. But above all, Tommy loved to fish. Sitting in a boat with his best buddies, his family, or his doting grandchildren by his side was always his favorite.

After his wife Elizabeth’s passing in 1993, Tommy later married good friend and real estate colleague Blanche Sawyer. For the last 28 years of Tommy’s life, their love and care for each other became one of his greatest blessings. Tommy and Blanche were inseparable, best friends! Together, they loved traveling, fishing, and watching the horse races. Their adventurous spirits took them all over the country, making priceless memories together before settling back in Fort Smith to be closer to family.

On February 22, 2022, surrounded by family, Tommy passed peacefully on to Heaven. Tommy is preceded in death by his first wife Elizabeth Donoho, his mother Tippie Donoho, father R.N. Donoho, and son Jerry Donoho. Tommy is survived by his wife Blanche Sawyer Donoho, daughter Leigh Merry (husband Philip), stepdaughter Kerri Norman (husband Eddie), stepson Buzz Sawyer (wife Laurie), his many adoring grandchildren, and his rapidly-growing list of doting great-grandchildren.

To honor Tommy’s legacy is simple – tell a joke, pull a prank, go fishing, be as grateful for the loved ones in your life as Tommy was for his. If you want to honor his legacy in other ways, his top 3 interests in helping others included: 1) the Midtown Apartments facility which offers affordable housing to low income elderly in our community; 2) the Meals on Wheels Mission that feeds thousands of area citizens in need each year; and 3) the UAFS Donoho Endowment that helps students afford a college education. Or give to the charity of your choice.

Services and cremation are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com