R.D. Thomas "Tom" Ansley, Jr.

Funeral services for Mr. Tom Ansley, Jr. of Kilgore will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Will Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at the Danville Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Tom passed away on November 30, 2023, in Kilgore.

Tom was born on February 11, 1939, in Houston, Texas. He was the son of the late R.D. Ansley and Bobbie Anita Martin Ansley. Tom graduated high school from Spring Branch 1957 and continued his education at University of North Texas in Denton, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree. He worked for Humble Oil for four years before starting his career in education. Tom was a Industrial Technology Teacher for many years. He moved to East Texas in 1975 and taught school at Leverett’s Chapel and later at West Rusk ISD until his retirement in 2002. Tom was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Kilgore, where he served as a Elder and Deacon. He was a very accomplished woodworker, he loved to wood carve. Tom was a member of East Texas Wood Carvers and the National Wood Cavers Associations.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife of 42 years Juanita Burge Ansley; sister, Alice Cathryn Wills.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife; Melody Ansley of Kilgore, daughter, Jennifer Callie Lowery of Colorado, step-sons, Greg Rich and wife Carole of Phoenix, AZ and Scott Rich and wife Cathy of Livermore, CA.; nephew, Blake Wills of Houston area; cousins, Carol and Mary Alice of the Houston area.

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