Thomas L. Kesl

Thomas L. Kesl, 59, of White Hall, died Friday, March 6, 2015. He was born Feb. 29, 1956 in West Helena, son of James and Berta Faye Potts Kesl. Mr. Kesl loved to tease his family and friends about remembering his leap year birthday. Mr. Kesl was reared and received his early education in Helena-West Helena, graduating from Central High School. He attended Phillips County Community College. As a young man, Thomas worked for his father at Kesl Brothers Construction. After school, he worked as a chemist for Helena Chemical, Allied Chemical and later for Entergy at the White Bluff Station. Mr. Kesl was a Lutheran by faith. He loved hunting, fishing, gardening, spending time with his children and grandchildren and animals. Mr. Kesl was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, who helped raise him, Oma Lee Worsham Potts; paternal grandparents, Oldrich and Lillian Kesl; and maternal great-grandparents, Lemuel and Bertie Potts. Survivors include his wife, Mary "Meg" Blocksom Kesl, whom he married July 28, 1984 in Pine Bluff; three sons, Christopher Kesl of League City, Texas, Keith Kesl of White Hall and Braden VonTungeln of Pine Bluff; daughter, Rebecca "Brandy" Prince (Shane) of Watson Chapel; four grandchildren, Olivia Kesl, Julia Kesl, Addison Prince and Laura Prince; half-brother, Dale Kesl of Kansas City, Mo.; foster son, Josh Tollison (Deanna) of Star City; Josh and Deanna's three sons, Cole, Jon Casey and Cash Tollison; and Thomas' best friend, Ronnie Miller of White Hall. A Celebration of Life gathering will be Tuesday evening, March 10, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church. Cremation arrangements were handled by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Attn: Tribute Department, PO Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, Tenn. 38148. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.