Thomas Gayle Kash, 67, of Beaumont died July 24, 2011 at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont. Born in Madisonville, Kentucky on January 17, 1944, he was the son of Lovenia E. Maddox-Kash and Oliver P. Kash. His family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana where he met his wife of forty-five years, Gayle Jones Kash, while attending McNeese State University.
Tom served in the United States Army from 1968-1971, including one tour of duty in Vietnam. Upon completion of his service, he had achieved the rank of Captain and had been awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Combat Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert M-16 Rifle, Grenade and M60 Machine Gun Badges. After his military duty, he graduated from McNeese, being a member of a number of organizations including Delta Theta Chi, the National Society of Scabbard and Blade, and ROTC.
After moving to the Beaumont area, he was employed by Burroughs-Welcome Co/GlaxoSmithKline as a Pharmaceutical Representative until his retirement. Tom was a member of Grace and Truth Gospel Tabernacle, where he faithfully served as a Deacon from 1973 until 2011. He loved to read, work in his yard, and travel. He was known for telling stories to all his children and grandchildren. It brought great comfort to his family to see that he faced death with as much honor and dignity that he had faced life with.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Gayle Kash of Beaumont; their daughter, Sarah Bell and her husband, Justan and grandchildren Christopher and Susanna Bell of Fannett; sons, Scott Kash and his wife, Renee and grandchildren Allison, Rachel, and Anna Kash of League City; Stephen Kash and his wife, Hannah and grandchildren Chandler, Weston, Wyatt, and William Kash of Fannett; and Sam Kash and his wife Courtnie and grandchildren Greyson, Gavin, and Grady Kash of Sour Lake; brothers, Robin Kash and his wife, Judy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Bruce Kash and his wife, Wendy of Huntsville, Alabama.
Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 29, 2011 at Broussard’s, 1605 N Major Drive, Beaumont followed by a graveside service at 1:30 p.m. at Houston National Cemetery in Houston. A gathering of family and friends will be Thursday evening, July 28, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.
