Journal entry by Therese Sims —
We arrived at Ascension Church after 8 am. Thank you for your prayers with our sustaining Cathy Jack, TJ in the entire family.
The family decided to omit the very last of the obituaries so here is the amendment to that.
Kathy again most hardly relies on divine intervention and her prayers of an answered by your generosity of time dinner meals calls cards and flowers-- She wanted you to know her heart.
The family decided to omit the very last of the obituaries so here is the amendment to that.
Kathy again most hardly relies on divine intervention and her prayers of an answered by your generosity of time dinner meals calls cards and flowers-- She wanted you to know her heart.
Thomas “Tom” Edward Oxley, Sr., age 69, of Overland Park passed away at his home on November 13, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.
Tom Loved life Living it full of passion and humor from the start. He was born to his parents Jerry Eugene Oxley II and Lena Virginia Farris Oxley in Excelsior Springs, MO. on July 31, 1952. He became the youngest of six; the fifth of five boys.
He grew up in this active household first in Hardin, MO in a tiny two-bedroom house where all their children shared one bed. The family eventually found more space when they moved to a house on Denver Avenue on the East Side of Kansas City, MO.
Tom, often known as “Tommy” or “Thomas Eddy” was the last to leave the house after graduating from East High School, K.C.,MO., in 1970. He went on to begin his first career in tire recycling at Beck Tire in Kansas City, MO. Tom would be the first to let you know he worked every day of his life from age 15 on. His work ethic was one of his best qualities.
Tom and his first wife, Barabara Smith, married on August 23, 1975 in Raytown, MO. They welcomed their one son together in June of 1976; Thomas “TJ” Edward Oxley, Jr. Tom and Barbara raised TJ alongside her four other children, Tammy, Kenny, Shaun, and Sandy Howery. Tom proudly raised all five children as his own for several years. He was affectionately called “Dad.” Tom continued to be a huge influence in each of their lives.
Tom and his son , TJ spent many weekends going to movies and KC Royal’s baseball games. On one notorious afternoon, TJ and his dad got to 17 innings watching the Royals play. At this game they got to meet the famous George Brett-- humorous Tom even taunting George a bit.
After spending years on the road for Beck Tire, Tom’s career took him to Florida TIre Recycling in Port St. Lucie, FL. around 1993. These pivotal four years not only gave Tom a deep tan that would last him the rest of his life, moreover, was the proving ground where Tom conquered his demons thus, he gained lifelong sobriety. It was then that Tom credited Jack Wilson, CEO of Florida Tire Recycling Co. for saving his life.
In 1996, a renewed Tom came back to his roots in Kansas City and continued his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous while working "The 12 Steps" that gave him a new lease on life. At a local AA meeting that fall, Tom met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with; Catherine “Cathy” L. Young. They met after a Thanksgiving meeting while decorating for Christmas over 25 years ago. With his Tom Selleck style mustache and heavy leather jacket, Cathy won Tom's attention above all others. On one cold fall evening, soon after they had their first date at The Olive Garden, the sparks flew.
Tom and Cathy felt blessed to exchange marriage vows at Unity Church, Ov.Pk., Kansas on June 21st 1997. Who would have guessed that they would welcome Tom’s second child in September of 1998; John “Jack” Thomas Oxley. Tom thanked God every day that He gave him another son later in life. With this new chapter of his fatherhood, Tom and Jack, the 2 “bubbas,” spent many summer breaks and weekends in Tom’s truck, also named Tom. Together they traveled to every corner of the KC metro and the Midwest. Tom never passed up the opportunity to go to breakfast and coffee on a Saturday morning with Jack. Cathy said: "They shared a great sense of humor They laughed together all the time".
Second to attaining sobriety, Tom Oxley’s proudest achievement was beating cancer a multitude of times. This included at one time a 14-cm tumor on his liver, Stage II lymphoma as well as kidney cancer. All of which he ( God) successfully overcame.
To the end, nothing made Tom happier than to spend weekends and holidays with his wife, his boys, and his grandsons. Their common love for their creator, Jesus Christ, nurtured a wondrous rich family life and legacy.
Tom is survived by his wife, Cathy Oxley of Overland Park, KS, his sons, TJ Oxley of Smithville, MO., and Jack Oxley of Kansas City, MO.; three grandsons, Zach Connors, Jay Oxley, and Ty Oxley of Smithville, MO; four former step-children, Tammy, Kenny, Shaun, and Sandy Howery of Kansas City, MO.; along with many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Lena Oxley and five siblings; Kenneth L. DeMint; Loren P. DeMint Sr.; Paula Sue (DeMint) Soldanels; Jerry E. Oxley III; and Wayne C. DeMint Sr.
-- Flowers maybe sent to Ascension Church prior to the Visitation.
All are invited to attend:
-The Visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at
Church of the Ascension, 9510 West 127th St. Overland Park, Kansas.
- Followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at the church.
- The burial will be held afterwards
at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in K C., MO. and is open to anyone who would like to attend.
- A luncheon will be held at the Church once the family returns from the burial at approximately 12:00 p.m.
The family requests any contributions to be made in Tom's memory be gifted to either:
University of Kansas Liver Center- Transplant Program at K.U. Med Center, Liver Center, mail stop 1018, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas, 66160.
Or
to Catholic Community Hospice, 16201 West 95th St., Overland Park, Kansas.
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