Thomas Earl “Tommy” Liles of Corpus Christi, Texas was born April 9, 1924 in Wiggins, Mississippi and passed away on November 4, 2009.  He was 85.

Tommy was a member of First United Methodist Church, and was a US Army Air Corp WWII Veteran.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl Hobson Liles and Myrtle Louise Liles; brothers Donald Ray Liles, Lanny Ward Liles and Russell “Rut” Liles.  He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Gloria Juanita Liles; a daughter, Andrea Liles Reynolds; siblings and their spouses, Charles E. Liles, Mary Louise and  Joe Dan Franklin, Joe and Janice Liles, Sylvia and Sam Barnett, Charlotte and Johnnie Esterak; grandchildren, Scott and Lindsay Reynolds; and numerous nieces and nephews who were all dear to him.

Tommy was always very adventurous and graduated from Mexico City College, which today is the Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla.  After graduation he attended the Inter-American Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Turrialba, Costa Rica where he had received a one-year fellowship doing research with abaca, a substitute for hemp, which had a dangerous supply line. Tommy was stationed in Brazil for three years as a member of the Foreign Missions Squadron under the direction of the Secretary of the Joint Brazil-United States Military Commission. Brazil was the second foreign assignment he had during the last war. He had been stationed in New Guinea, the Philippines, the East Indies and finally at the Tayuka Cadet Training Base which was the Randolph Field of Japan. He read, wrote and spoke Portuguese and Spanish fluently. Tom later studied contemporary Corrections and Behavioral Sciences at Sam Houston State University and was a Harris County Juvenile Probation Officer from 1955 to 1969. During this time he served frequently as Court Interpreter in the Domestic Relations Court of the Honorable Judge J.W. Mills. His family moved to Corpus Christi in 1969 where Tom was a Juvenile Parole Officer with the Texas Youth Council from 1969 to 1978.

Tom and Juanita then started a Mom & Pop pest control business in Corpus Christi (still serving people) where they met so many wonderful friends all around South Texas as Tom was always a people person.

A Memorial Service will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 900 Shoreline Boulevard in Corpus Christi, Texas, on November 7, 2009, 2:00 PM, with a reception to follow.

Donations may be made to First United Methodist Church or charity of your choice.

Services entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.

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