Tom Eugene Hamlett was born July 18, 1934, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to Albert Jefferson and Georgia B. (Ratcliff) Hamlett. He died Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 79 years. Tom was reared and educated in Chouteau, Oklahoma, and graduated with the Chouteau High School Class of 1952. He was a veteran of the armed forces having served his country with the United States Army during the Korean War. He continued his education attending Oklahoma State University where he earned his Bachelor ofScience degree in accounting while minoring in economics. He was also an active member of the OSU fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi. Tom was married June 30, 1962, in Perry, Oklahoma, to Linda Grace Hunt. He spent over 30 years as an accountant with British Petroleum, formerly Amoco. He was a faithful member of Eastwood Baptist Church in Tulsa where he volunteered at the church through benevolent work, especially to widows and single mothers. He also served several years with the Tulsa Auxiliary Police Department. Tom was an avid runner and was a regular participant in the annual Tulsa Run. Tom completed 24 Tulsa Runs. Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in 1996 and found a courageous, lengthy battle. Throughout Tom’s illness, he never became angry, complained, felt sorry for himself or questioned why he had Parkinson Disease. Regarding Tom’s illness, he said “that it was just the hand that I’ve been dealt.” Tom maintained his positive, grateful, easy going, sweet disposition, generous nature and humor until he went to Heaven. He will be greatly missed.
Loving family members include:
His wife of over 53 years; Linda, of the home
Daughter and son-in-law; Gina and Shannon Kepler, of Tulsa
Three grandchildren; Lisa, Danielle, and Rebecca Kepler
Three brothers;
A.J. Hamlett, Jr., and his wife Barbara, of Inola, Oklahoma
Dean Hamlett and his wife Loleta, of Las Vegas, Nevada
Don R. Hamlett and his wife Pat, of Omaha, Nebraska
Nephews; Jeff Hamlett, Don Hamlett, Danny Hamlett, and Mike de Steiger
Cousins; Virginia Cisco, and Leon Holland and other numerous cousins and many loving friends
Tom’s life was also greatly enriched by the kindness of recent caregivers April Moreland and Michael Ssettimba as well as Jennifer Johnson and Nurse Ola Adesokan.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel in Owasso with Pastor Gordon Small and Pastor Chip Reynolds. Committal services and interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5111 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa, OK. There will be a celebration of Tom’s life reception after his burial at the Family Center located at Memorial Park Cemetery. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma, 720 West Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 109, Oklahoma City, OK 74116. www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org. Donations made in memory of Tom will be forwarded to the Tulsa Program, Parkinson Voice Project, which he was currently attending. In addition, memorial contribution may also be made to the Voice of the Martyrs, P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74005-0443, www.persecution.com. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.
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