Tommy Joe (Tom) Milligan Sr. died at the Mother Joseph Care Center in Olympia on April 14, 2018, due to complications following an accident. He was 88 years old.

Tom was born on Nov. 5, 1929, in Perry, Okla., to Anna and Clyde Milligan. His early years were spent growing up on a farm in north-central Oklahoma, just south of the Kansas border. After graduating from Oologah High School in 1949, Tom worked as credit manager at the Firestone Tire & Rubber showroom in Bartlesville, Okla. On March 13,1953, he married Gloria Houk, to whom he remained married for 65 years, until his death.

Tom entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served for two years at Fort Sill, Okla. After the Army, Tom attended the Television and Radio Repair School at Oklahoma A&M University.

In 1955, he started what would be his 40-year career as a (mostly) self-employed TV repairman. Tom owned and ran shops in Kansas, California and Oregon over the years and was valued and esteemed by his customers for his honesty and skill.

Tom was liked and respected by all who knew him and was loved by many. He served his community wherever he lived, volunteering with the Fredonia, Kan., Red Bluff, Calif., Stanfield, Ore., and Ocean Shores, Wash. fire departments. Tom served on the City Council of Stanfield, Ore. for several years, and in Ocean Shores he served as a fire inspector. Tom was a hard-working, devoted officer and member of the Lions Clubs of Red Bluff and later Ocean Shores.

Tom is survived by his wife, Gloria, his sons Tommy Jr. and Gregory; his sister, Anna Mae Elam; his brother, Ernest Milligan and six grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother, Anna, and his brother, Wayne.

A memorial for Tom will take place on May 12, at 1 p.m. at the Ocean Shores Lions Club. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Tom’s life. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ocean Shores Lions Club, Camp Leo for Children with Diabetes or the Lions Clubs International.