Thomas Richard Nance

Thomas Richard Nance, 63, of Searcy, died Sunday, November 18, 2012. He was born April 19, 1949, in Searcy, the son of James Kyle and Betty Jean Smith Nance. Tommy graduated from Forrest City High School in 1968. He served in the United States Marine Corps from August, 1968, until August, 1972, serving one full year with the 1st Marine Air Wing in Danang, South Vietnam. He then enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard and attended officer training school. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1975. At the time of his retirement from the Army Reserve in 1994 as a major, he had served his country for 26 years. During and after his military service, he worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 30 years. He was a member of the College Church of Christ. Surviving are his wife, Phyllis May Nance, of Searcy; a son, James Coe Nance and his wife, Leigh; a grandson, James Coe Nance Jr. of Jonesboro; a sister; Stephanie Moore and her husband, John, of Tallahassee, Florida; and an aunt, Franchelle Harrell of Newport. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Kimberly May Nance; and a brother; James "Jim" Nance II. Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel, with interment at 3:30 p.m. in Forrest Park Cemetery, Forrest City, Arkansas. www.powellfuneralhome.net. Memorials may be made to Children's Home Inc., 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Ark. 72450.