Tommy Jan Noles
On Saturday, September 4, 2021, Tommy Jan Noles, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, went home to be with the Lord at the age of 81.
Tom was born on February 1, 1940, in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Evelyn and Floyd Brewer. He is the adopted son of Jack Noles, and the middle brother of Mitzie Hembree and Bill Noles. Tom grew up in Tonkawa, graduating from Tonkawa High School. August 19, 1961, he married Marilyn Bewley. Tom and Marilyn spent most of their 60-year marriage living in Edmond, Oklahoma, where they raised two daughters, Juli and Paige, and one son, Tommy Jon. Tom was heavily involved in the lives of their five grandchildren, Megan, Molly, Colton, Mallory, and Trenton, who knew him as “Papa”. Tom and Marilyn celebrated the arrival of their first great-grandchild, Stevie Lynn Foreman-Brackett, in 2020 and Tom welcomed his second great-grandchild, Daniel Elmore Lawton, in 2021. He was eagerly awaiting the arrival of great-grandchild number three, Noles Meyer Lagasse.
Tom devoted his life to serving God by serving His people. He was a faithful father and grandfather, often driving hours round trip with Marilyn to watch one athletic event or dance recital. Tom found joy in all things Mickey Mouse and wore his signature Mickey watch with pride. His passion was caring for others, usually behind the scenes, and always with a twinkle in those blue eyes. Tom admired the ‘cowboy way’. He loved a good western and, in his words, “was obsessed with John Wayne.” He lived by the words of his hero, “I define manhood simply: men should be tough, fair, and courageous, never petty, never looking for a fight, but never backing down from one either.”
Tom cherished his relationships and embraced any chance to make a new friend. It was uncanny how everywhere he went, he knew someone. In his final days, Tom asked the Lord for the opportunity to be an example of God’s grace and Christ’s love for every person he met.
Since childhood, Tom loved playing and watching sports. He and Marilyn played tennis and he enjoyed golf. Tom played football through high school and took every opportunity to watch the Oklahoma Sooners. He was especially fond of watching his Sooners defeat the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Tom graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a doctorate in Pharmacy and had a successful career owning pharmacies at different times, working for Allied Supermarkets (Humpty), Fleming, and FoxMeyer. He started a thriving consulting business, CBI, with longtime friends to help independent pharmacists. Tom set an incredible example of hard work and dedication, even making calls from the hospital bed to check on his valued customers. Tom was an active participant and donor to the Oklahoma Frontier Drug Store Museum and touched many lives as a 25-year Bible Study Fellowship leader. He was loyal, generous, funny, God-fearing, and incredibly stubborn. Tom made others better and his friendship was a gift treasured by many.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, his parents, Evelyn and Jack, his sister-in-law, Wanda Bewley, and his grandson, Hunter Lagasse. His children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sister, nieces, nephews, and friends carry on his legacy.
A memorial service was held at 4 p.m. Saturday, September 11, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond and livestreamed at https://fpcedmond. org/media. His ashes will be interred at a later date at Gracelawn Cemetery. Donations and memorial contributions may be made to the César Chávez Elementary School.