 McFARLIN
- John Thomas (Tom) Jr., long time Mayes County banker, died June
23, 2008, after an extended illness. Tom was born to John Thomas
McFarlin, Sr., and Jemima Alice (Eidson) McFarlin in Cassville,
Barry County, MO, on February 2, 1922. He attended school in
Cassville and graduated from Cassville High School in 1939. He also
attended Park College and military engineering schools (Lehigh and
Johns Hopkins). Tom served in the United States Army during World
War II in the 84th Infantry division (nicknamed "the railsplitters"),
335th Infantry Regiment, Company L. He was in the battle of the
Rhineland from October 10, 1944, until he left Europe on December
31, 1944. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in the army in
March 1946. Tom married Nancy Lou Crain on May 6, 1951, in
Cassville, MO. Tom and Nancy were married 57 years.Tom began his
banking career at the First National Bank in Cassville, MO, in 1952.
In 1954, Tom and his family moved to Tulsa and Tom joined National
Bank of Tulsa, now known as Bank of Oklahoma. In 1956, he went to
work for his father-in-law, R. Kenneth Crain, at American National
Bank of Pryor as Cashier, eventually becoming Executive Vice
President and Vice Chairman of the Board. In 1973, he left the
American National Bank of Pryor and, with his wife Nancy, organized
the Lakeside Bank of Salina. In 1991, he sold the bank and retired.
In Pryor, he was a past President of the Chamber of Commerce;
Treasurer of the Lyons Club; and charter member of the Elks Lodge.
Tom was involved in the Highway 69 widening project between Pryor
and Muskogee. Tom was also a member of the Sons of the American
Revolution. Tom is survived by: his wife Nancy of the home; son,
Stephen Crain McFarlin and wife Julie of Broken Arrow, OK; daughter,
Cynthia Ann Boese of Tulsa, OK; and son, Craig Thomas McFarlin of
Houston, TX.In addition, he is survived by 2 grandchildren: Sean
Andrew McFarlin of Tulsa, OK and Julia Elizabeth McFarlin Boese of
Tulsa, OK. He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 sister,
Phyllis Jean McFarlin. Tom was a loving and devoted husband, father
and grandfather. His example will not be forgotten by those who
loved him. A private family memorial service will be held at 3 p.m.
on Friday, July 11th, at Floral Haven Funeral Home. Internment was
at Floral Haven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests
that donations be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825
NE 13th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, or through its website:
www.omrf.org John Thomas (Tom) McFarlin |