Mr. Thomas Gordon Bear “Tommy” Williams, age 80, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on November 19, 1935 in Russell, Kentucky, the loving son of the late, Gordon Allen and Lillian (Williams) Bear. He was raised by his grandparents, Henry and Ada (Wells) Williams in Olive Hill, Kentucky. Tommy was a 1954 graduate of Olive Hill High School where he participated in baseball and basketball. Tommy was inducted into the United States Navy on July 20, 1954 in Ashland, Kentucky, serving during the Korean War. Tommy received the Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged with the rank of Telleman 3rd Class on June 19, 1958 in Norfolk, Virginia. Tommy was united in marriage on May 27, 1960 in Olive Hill, Kentucky to Betty Jean Easterling. Tommy and Betty shared 56 loving years of marriage together until his death. Tommy was employed for the Federal Correction Institution in Ashland, Kentucky for 11 years. Tommy was also employed for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Golconda, Illinois, for 7 years. He was also employed as a lock master for Lock and Dam for 7 years and for Markland Dam for 13 years, retiring in 1991. He was raised in the Olive Hill Nazarene Church in Olive Hill, Kentucky. Tommy was a Kentucky Colonel and enjoyed watching the Reds and Kentucky Wildcats. Tommy passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida.
Tommy will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 56 years: Betty Jean (Easterling) Williams of Vevay, IN; his daughters: Susan Chatham of Vevay, IN and Rose Monjar and her husband: Jerry of Quercus Grove, IN; his grandchildren: Adrienne Bosh and her husband: Chris, Rachel Chatham, Kayla Campos and Adam Campos; his great-grandchildren: Trinity, Jackson, Dylan, Phoenix and Lennox Bosh; his brothers-in-law: Jimmy Easterling of Ashland, OH, Bernard Easterling of Olive Hill, KY, Virgil Easterling of Niles, OH and Ephraim Easterling of Olive Hill, KY; his sisters-in-law: Emma Dean of Niles, OH and Ruby Lunsford of Morehead, KY and his numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Gordon Allen and Lillian (Williams) Bear; his grandparents that raised him: Henry and Ada (Wells) Williams; his daughter: Debra Campos, died June 15, 2012; his brothers-in-law: Ernest Easterling, Glen Easterling and Pete Jackson Easterling and his sister-in-law: Bonnie Williams.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, July 10, 2016, at 2:30 pm, by Bro. G.B. Turner, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043. Fellowship to follow at the Vevay Assembly Church in Vevay, Indiana.
Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana
Friends may call 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Saturday, July 9, 2016, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice. Cards are available at the funeral home.