Thomas Edward "T.E." Nease

Savannah, GA – Tom Nease died Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at Candler Hospital in Savannah. The Effingham County native was 84 years old and lived most of his life in Savannah.

After graduating from Commercial High School in 1945, he served in the U.S. Army in World War II and received a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Georgia. Along the way, Tom worked two summers building Liberty Ships for World War II. Before and after his army service he worked for the Central of Georgia Railroad Company and began his career with Union Camp Corp. after obtaining his degree. He retired from Union Camp after his last position as Controller of the Savannah Retail Bag Plant with over thirty-five years of service.

At age twenty-one he became a Mason and later a Past Master Mason and Emeritus Mason. After ten years of bowling, he moved to learning and teaching safe boating with the Tybee Light Power Squadron, achieving Commander and later "Life Membership".

After retiring he became a Life Member in the Georgia Salzburger Society serving several terms as a board member and ten years on the genealogy book Update Committee. That work sparked a desire to visit Germany from where his ancestors came to Savannah and Ebenezer, GA November 23, 1752. He and a Society group of thirty others visited his ancestor's area of Langenall, Germany, Salzburg and Austria in 2003.

The activities above were mostly educational, career or "giving back", but his membership in the German Friendly Society has been all friendship, food and fun. Prosit, "Sauf oder Lauf".

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Betty; son, Tom Jr.; sister, Dorothy Joyner Will; sisters-in-law, Betty W. Nease and Gerry Nease and cousins and nephews. He was the third child of Julius I. Nease, Sr. and Effie Augusta Jordan Nease and was preceded by them and brothers, Julius and Eugene and sisters, Effie and Virginia.

Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday, May 30, 2011 at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, "Erst die Last, dann die Rast".

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Asbury United Methodist Church, 1008 E. Henry St., Savannah, GA 31401.