Funeral Service: Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 10AM in the Chapel of Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park. Visitation will be Friday, January 28, 2022 from 6-8 at the funeral home.
Tom was born in 1937, in Roswell, New Mexico to Arthur and Beulah Blanscet. The family later moved to Alamogordo for a short while before settling in Lordsburg, NM. It was there, Tom and his five sisters spent the rest of their childhood. Tom lost his mother at the age of 13 years old and helped his father with work and taking care of his sisters. Those difficult days proved to shape his dedicated work ethic, which continued throughout his life. At the age of 17 Tom joined the Air Force. He spent his first year in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He then completed his four years of service in France. Following an honorable discharge, Tom returned to Roswell, where he met and later married the love of his life, Shirley Ann Hobbs in 1958. Tom worked at Furr’s Grocery store and was later promoted and transferred to Assistant Manager in Lamesa, Texas. There he and Shirley started their family with the birth of Terrie Lynn and Ricky Scott. In 1966, while helping friends move from Lamesa to Nocona, Tom was dared to apply for a job with Piggly Wiggly. He got the job and moved his family to Wichita Falls, Texas, where they put down their roots. Tom spent many years managing Piggly Wiggly and United grocery stores around town. At two separate times, he owned a small market and a convenience store. He later left the grocery business and spent an additional 10+ years working for a local uniform company before retirement.
Tom enjoyed being active and spending time outdoors. He owned and rode motorcycles during the 70’s and he loved to play golf. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and children and with friends to his favorite places which included driving through the mountains of Colorado, spending time in the beauty of Branson, Missouri, and visiting Tennessee. When not traveling, he would spend time gardening and working in the yard, building things and repairing anything needed around the house. Tom started bowling while in the Air Force and it was forever his passion. Following retirement, he continued to bowl in Senior Leagues and took part and won numerous tournaments. Even after back and shoulder surgery a few years ago, his goal for recovery was to get back to bowling and that he did.
Tom never met a stranger and would at once make people smile with his positive personality, silly jokes and infectious smile. He is truly missed and will be remembered as a loving husband to his beautiful wife, whom he cared for so lovingly during the last few years of her life. He will forever remain a hero in the hearts of his children, and a legend to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is cherished by his sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews who loved and adored him and sorely missed by others who will remember him as a dear and loyal friend.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley Blanscet of 62 years; a grandson, Sgt. Collin Scott Blanscet; and three sisters, Bertha Mae Phillips, Betty Jo Banks, and Mary Ellen Self.
Tom is survived by his children, Terrie Lynn Harwell and husband Rex of Fort Worth, Texas; Rick Blanscet and wife Tammi of Wichita Falls, Texas; two sisters, Shirley Womack of Lewiston, Idaho and Pat Johnston of Boise, Idaho; five grandchildren, Sgt. Casey Blanscet of Marshall, North Carolina, Ryan Harwell and wife Jamie of Fort Worth, Texas, Kyle Blanscet of Jacksonville, Florida, Clint Harwell and wife Elizabeth of Fort Worth, Texas, and Tara Harwell-Watson and husband Jery of San Diego, California; five great grandchildren, Cole and Sadie Harwell, Emory Ann Blanscet, Rivers and Bodhi Blanscet; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews as well as many dear friends.
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