Tom Lanier
November 13, 1922 ~ September 12, 2011
LINDEN, TX Thomas Francis Lanier, Sr., 88, of Linden, passed away Monday, September 12, 2011 at his home in Linden. Mr. Lanier was born November 13, 1922 in Linden to William Ruben and Bertha Nancy Frost Lanier. He married Cissi Hargrove on October 25, 1951. He was a graduate of Marshall High School, Class of 39. Mr. Lanier served in the WWII as a 1st Sgt. in the Army where he acted as forward observer for 105MM Howitzers during field operations. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge for action against the enemy during a liaison mission and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three campaign stars. He owned and operated Lanier Chevrolet in Linden for 42 years. He served on the Chevrolet Dealer Planning Committee and was area director of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association. Mr. Lanier attended A & M College of Texas, now Texas A & M University, and was an avid Texas A & M fan, holding memberships in the Texas A & M 12th Man Foundation, Texas A & M Former Student Association, Cypress Valley A & M Club and Texas Aggie Corp of Cadets Association. He was a charter member of the Aggie Club and the Century Club. He held memberships in the following organizations, American Legion, VFW, Linden Lions Club, charter member of the Linden Municipal Hospital Authority serving as president for 30 years, chairman of the Linden Housing Authority, L-K School Board, Linden Round-up Club, Linden Volunteer Ambulance Service, was founder of the Linden Summer Baseball program and Club Lake Association. He was Linden Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year 1992. Mr. Lanier was also active in the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Linden United Fund, L-K Quarterback Club, Linden Small Business Association, Texas Advisory Council of Small Businesses, Sul Ross Reunion Group, Crop of 22, and was an Admiral in the Texas Navy. He was a member of Linden First United Methodist Church where he served on various committees. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Cissi Lanier of Linden; two sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Judy Lanier and Glenn and Melissa Lanier all of Linden; three daughters and sons-in-law, Lesa and Jeff Lovett of Nacogdoches, Denise and Mike Mahan of Linden, and Dana and Gary Boland of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; five grandchildren, LaShay Mahan Ebarb, Michael Mahan, Lauren Lesa Lanier, Tommy Lanier and Bradley Lanier; eight great grandchildren, Zak Mahan, Max Ebarb, Zoe Ebarb, Dex Ebarb, Mia Mahan, Maci Mahan, Mikey Mahan, and Thomas Francis Lanier IV; plus many other family and friends. A memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at Linden First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kevin Young officiating. A private interment will be in Linden Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis-Schindler Funeral Home in Linden. The family received friends from 6 to 7 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.
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We are thinking of you at this difficult time. Love to you all.
To Cissi and all the Lanier Family, My heartfelt sympathy goes out to each of you. You are in my thoughts,my heart, and my prayers.May God's love make your grief bearable. Wishing you strength and peace,Linda
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Tom. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. ((((HUGS)))) to Ms. Cissi. I love you!
So sorry for your loss . My thoughts and prayers are with all of you .
Great/honest and dedicated person! His Bio clearly protrays the man he was……….We will miss you Tom Lanier!
My condolences and prayers to the family. Have such wonderful memories of Mr. Lanier! He was truly an awesome American and Linden Citizen. He will be missed. Please give Mrs. Lanier a hug from me. Elaine
May God give each of you strength and comfort during the time of your loss. Mr. Tom's good deeds and love will continue to live on in Linden. He has touched so many hearts.A
I was so saddened to hear of Tom's death this afternoon.I am in Bedford so will be unable to attend the service. Be assured that my thoughts and prayers are with all of the family.I love you all! Dana
So saddened to hear of the loss of your dear husband and father. Mr. Lanier will be greatly missed.May God's loving Grace surround you all, giving comfort and strength through this difficult time. Neal and Eva Lee
To Cissi and all the Lanier Family: I have many fond memories of "Mr. Tom" over the years. With dad working 33 years at Lanier Chevrolet, it seems that you all have been a part of my life for so long. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to each of you. I know dad is excited to have someone else to help him cheer the Aggies on! Wishing you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
How time passes on. Mr. Lanier was just 47 yrs. old when I went to work for him in 1970. At that time I thought he was an old man, but the older I got the younger he got. He was the best man I ever worked for.
It is with great sadness that I write these words. Sandra and I have known Tom for many years and I have special memories of his involvment with the Linden Summer Baseball program, having been president of that organization for two years. I shall never forget all the help that Tom afforded me and was always there when I needed him. He also was a stalwart in the Lion's Club Choir that I directed for many years. When asked for help, Tom never said no. I shall miss him.
We are thinking of you.
Remembering Tom fondly and keeping all of you in our prayers. God bless.
Our condolences to Tom's family in this time of b
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Mr. Tom had a great life and you all brought him joy. God Bless.
Mrs. Cissi and family,Please know that each of you is in our thoughts and prayers. Mr. Tom will always be a fond part of the Grubbs kids' memories! We love you all!!
Miss Cissy and family: I was so sorry to hear of your loss. He was such a large part of Linden community and his presence will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Daddy and Mr. Tom – A&M and Arkansas – Aggies and Hogs. I can still hear them laughing and smell the pork chops. They are both loved and missed. My sympathies to you all.Love, Nancy
My condolences to Tom's family at this time. I know how proud he was of each member as they became Aggies .We enjoyed their visits in College Station and his phone calls when he was in town He was so wonderful to our young family during our two different tours there with the Texas Forest Service, I kept that '64 Chevy pickup for almost 20 years after leaving Linden ! It was a landmark on the A&M campus which really pleased Tom. Tom will be missed by all of us Our warmest regards Bruce Miles
Our thoughts and prayers pour out to you. We loved Mr. Tom and he was like part of our family. Love, The Basham family – Cathy, Sarah and Russ
My thoughts and prayers are with you today. I'll never forget his kindness and his smile! God bless each of you.
Cissi & family. We were sadden to learn of your great loss. We use to have so much fun watching the grandchildren pay baseball, as well as with other sports. Everyone in Linden will miss him greatly. Love, Freddie & Josephine Hall – along with the rest of our family.
Frank, my condolences and prayers to you and your family at the passing of your dad. "Gig 'em Aggies"
To all the wonderful Lanier family, my heart goes out to you in this time of loss. Tom loved you guys more than anything. He served his country and community as a true leader. His life was a genuine example to others on how to "do it right". God Bless you Tom and Gig Em.
Our thought and prayers are with you.
To the family of Mr. Tom Lanier-our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with each of you. Mr. Tom was truly a good man, and will be missed. Heaven is now a better place because of Mr. Tom
Cissi and Family,Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God be with all of you.Dane, Rosia and family
To The Lanier Family, My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I was a customer of Lanier Chevrolet many years ago and bought several cars from Mr Lanier. I loved his honestly when dealing with his customers and that is why I drove from Texarkana, Arkansas everytime I wanted to buy a new car. It was a true honor to know Mr Lanier and the kind of man that he was. I know he will be missed by his family and friends, but I believe that our Lord was in need of another angel. God Bless all of you. Gail "Woodruff" Hall
THE ENTIRE LANIER FAMILY IS IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.THINKING OF YOU DANA AND GARY.
Thinking of and praying for y'all during this time. Mr. Lanier was a great man and a great Aggie.God Bless,Tedd, Katina, Trace and Isabella Hargett
I was truely saddened to hear of Tom's passing. He was a wonderful man and left me with many wonderful memories. I regret that I cannot make it to the service but know that I am there in spirit.Shawn
Lesa:Thinking of you and your family at this time.
Cissi and Family: I am just so saddened to hear of Mr. Tom's death. He was a great man and like family to me. He was a part of my life for as long as I can remember and was so supportive when I, too, became an Aggie. Few people loved the Aggies as much as he. I love you all and will keep you in my prayers.Marsha
Mr Tom will always be remembered as someone I looked up to as a man,a great father and as I got older as a friend, he will be missed but never forgotten.
We are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you. May God fill you with His power and purpose in the days to come.
Mr. Lanier was a good friend of the Rountree family for many years. We extend our sympathy to you all.
Your dad was a true leader of Linden and fine christian man. He was always good to me. He was very good to all the youth in Linden. He will be missed.
Dear Family,We are so sorry for your loss. Tom will be missed by many. The times we spent with you are precious memories.Please know we love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.Peace and loveJ & J Herring
Cisse and family my heart is very sad for you'll,feel very blessed for getting to no Tom, was a great person I no he will be missed by all.PRAYERS FOR ALL. Betty