Extracted from The Marshall News Messenger (Marshall, TX)
Thursday, June 29, 1995

Thomas Hensley

MARSHALL -- Services for Thomas Hensley, 79, of 1605 Meadow, Marshall, will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the Austin Street Chapel of Sullivan Funeral Home with Dr. Hollie Atkinson and the Rev. Dan Miner officiating. Interment will be in Algoma Cemetery-North. Assisting at the graveside services will be the Marshall Fire Department.

Mr. Hensley died at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 1995, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview following an extended illness.

He was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Grand Saline, the son of Thomas Jefferson Hensley and Sarah Bryan Elliott Hensley. He received his education in Hawkins and Marshall public schools. He is a graduate of the College in Dallas and a graduate of Television and Radio Technical Academy of Dallas. He married Esther Myrle Sutton on Sept. 7, 1940, in Jefferson. She preceded him in death on Dec. 7, 1991.

Mr. Hensley served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. He was a fire marshal for the City of Marshall from 1973-1980. He joined Marshall Fire Department in 1941. He was promoted to fire marshal in 1973, where he remained until his retirement in 1980.

He was a member of First Baptist Church and V.F.W. Post 3969. He served as quartermaster for four years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 267 and for many years served on the executive committee of the American Legion. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, a longtime member of the Greater Caddo Lake Association and was active in many Caddo Lake activities. He also attended the Church of Uncertain.

Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, David Shelton Hensley of Dallas and Gerald Wayne and Debbie Hensley of Uncertain; one daughter and son-in-law, Sharilyn Myrle and Evan Oney of Longview; two grandchildren, Lisa Lynnette Carnes of North Richland Hills and Kristy Leigh Livingston of Dallas; one brother, Donald Hensley of Houston; one sister, Mrs. B.R. (Doris) Vickery of San Antonio; four step-grandchildren, Angela Huggs of Pearcy, Ark., Laura Clemments of Gladewater, David Oney of Longview and Ashley Pierce of Uncertain; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Flowers are permitted or memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.

The family will receive friends at the Sullivan Funeral Home on Austin Street from 5-7 p.m. today.

Pallbearers will be Lt. Gene Younger, Lt. Pat Holmes, Capt. Mike Jeans, Capt. Beva (Beartrac) Ellis, Fire Marshal Bill Elliott and Sgt. Gene Walker. Alternate pallbearers will be Capt. Glen Coleman and firefighter Jack Davis.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Marshall Fire Department.