Thomas Cary McGriff

Thomas Cary McGriff of Mesquite, TX, born on December 15, 1940 in Three Rivers, TX, passed away on February 12, 2014. Preceded in death by parents, Thomas Church McGriff and Noema Browne McGriff, and Step Mother Mary Rose McGriff. Survived by wife, Linda Sue McGriff; son, Thomas Kevin McGriff; daughter, Sherri Lynn McGriff; granddaughters, Hannah Jo Duncan and Maggie Peyton McGriff; sister, Clara (Smokey) Wilson and husband Tim; step-sister Margret Ogan and husband Ed; sister-in-law, Terri Sweet; numerous nieces and nephews; extended families the Motts, the Setsers, and a host of Navy friends. Tom attended Schreiner University before joining the U.S. Navy in 1959. After attending submarine school in Groton, Connecticut he was assigned to the USS Tiru, a WWII diesel electric submarine based in Pearl Harbor.He patrolled the waters off the coasts of the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan.Tom received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his involvement in a military encounter that took place in the disputed islands of Quemoy and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait. Subsequently, he served on the USS Ethan Allen, a Polaris Submarine which housed 16 nuclear missiles, the first of its class in the United States.Serving as a fire control technician, he patrolled the North Atlantic as part of a deterrent force during the Cuban Missile Crisis.He was involved in the first and only test firing of a live Polaris Nuclear Missile.He later served on the USS Patrick Henry, and completed two terms as a Navy Recruiter before retiring from the military in 1983.His extended Navy families have never been more than a phone call away and hold very special memories. He was introduced to his wife, Linda, by his shipmate and her brother, Dick Sweet.They married a few years later on December 14, 1963 in Hyde Park, NY.They were blessed to celebrate 50 years of marriage this past December.Tom and Linda have two children; Tommy and Sherri, whom he loved unconditionally.His granddaughters were his pride and joy.To Hannah and Maggie he will always remain their Pampa. Tom loved his Lord and was member of Grace Episcopal Church . His Diabetes didn’t win this battle Our Lord took him to a better place! Tom was a member of the VFW, the Legion, and a life member of American Veterans.He held leadership positions on the local, state and national levels of the AMVETS.He was honored to serve as the AMVETS National Commander in 2006-2007.Tom was a passionate advocate for veterans and their rights.He loved being with his AMVET family and promoting their vision for the betterment of Veterans Affairs. The Memorial Service will be held at New Hope Funeral Home at 500 E. Hwy 80, Sunnyvale, TX on Friday, February 21, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. The interment will be at the DFW National Cemetery, Dallas, TX at 1:15 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that a memorial donation be made to AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary, 4647 Forbes Blvd, Lanham, Maryland 20706. (Memo note: “Diabetes Research”). Donations received will be sent to the AMVETS Diabetic Research Institute at Ohio University. The family would like to express their appreciation for the prayers, love, and support during this difficult time.