On October 24, 2019, Thomas Maurice Waller left this world, in the capable hands of his family and friends, as they would say fussing all the way.

Tom, as his wife, children and friends knew him, or Maurice, as the rest of his family new him, was born in Vaden, Arkansas on February 16, 1932 to Ena Leamons and Thomas Cleo Waller.

Tom spent his youth working on the farm, hunting and trapping. He attended school from the first grade to the eighth grade in a two-room school house. He often recalled that his family did not own a vehicle until the second world war.

Tom attended high school at Sparkman, where he was the star basketball player. He was so focused on basketball that in his senior year, when the school district changed, he lived with his coach during the week so that he could continue to play for Sparkman. He also became Class President.

After graduating from Henderson College, he served in the military in Germany, where he met the love of his life, Pauline Elizabeth Hetherington. Upon his return from Germany, he realized that he could not live without Pauline and they were married on June 22, 1957. They began their life together in Camden, Arkansas, where their son Thomas Alan was born about a year later, and then moved to Illinois two years later, where their second child, Sheila Elizabeth, was born.

After living in Illinois for eleven years, Tom and his family returned to Sheridan, Arkansas, where Tom served as Vice President of Guardpack, and a term as President of the Sheridan Country Club. He was member of the United Methodist church for more than 45 years, where he was a member of the choir; served as superintendent of Sunday school; and served as Treasurer.

Tom was always there to lend a helping hand or to give a simple smile or word of encouragement to family and friends. After he retired, you could always find him on the golf course or at the family farm, keeping everything running smoothly. He was very proud of his grandchildren Amanda Waller, Jay Strong, Kara Flint and her husband Caden, Dalton Strong, and Jordan Strong and his wife Brooke…. and he loved talking about them to anyone who would listen.

Tom also was close with his surviving sister, Sylvia Smith, and his nephew David Smith, his wife Tanya and their five children. As well as his son's wife Beth.

Tom will be missed greatly, but his laugh and love of life will endure, serving to comfort all those he has left behind.

Funeral service will be 1:30 P.M. Monday, October 28, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Sheridan. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Arkansas, 10411 W. Markham, Suite 109, Little Rock, AR 72205-1409 or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 357, Sheridan, AR 72150.