Obituaries

Thomas Lecil Shanks

Photo of Thomas Lecil Shanks
THOMAS LECIL SHANKS, of Little Rock, died on Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the age of 94. He was born on August 5, 1923 in Ft. Worth, Texas. His parents were the late Jesse Lee Shanks and Eunice Maynard Shanks. Growing up during the Great Depression, he began going to job sites as a child with his father, and by the age of 15 was considered an accomplished carpenter. He was very successful as a home builder in Ft. Worth, Texas. Later he began a career with Metropolitan Life Insurance until his retirement in 1978. He married his loving wife, the late Betty Nichols Shanks in December 1989. He is survived by children, Joe Nichols and John Nichols, both of Little Rock, Carolyn Shanks Paget of Houston, Texas, Thomas Randall Shanks of Ontario, Canada, and the late Dr. Richard A. Shanks of Houston, Texas. His many grandchildren include Ben Nichols of Memphis, Tenn., Matthew Nichols of Austin, Texas, Jeff Nichols of Austin, Texas, Melissa Mount O'Dell of Houston, Texas, Philip Carl Mount of Houston, Texas, Rachel Mount Gaston of Houston, Texas, Richard Lee Shanks of Houston, Texas, Rachel Shanks Brown of Houston, Texas, Thomas R. Shanks of Lenoir, N.C., and William Bradley Shanks of Lenoir, N.C.; and 15 great-grandchildren. He will be missed by all. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II for three years and 26 days. After the war, he attended Texas Christian University and Wharton School of Finance in Philadelphia, Pa. He earned his CLU during his career at MetLife, was a 32nd degree Mason, was active in the Sons of the American Revolution, and served as Tennessee State President and National Trustee, a Deacon in the Baptist Church, served as President of his Home Owners' Association for many years, and loved golfing with his friends. Funeral services will be held beginning at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211. A visitation with viewing will be held from 9-10 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at Riverwood Memorial Gardens, Maumelle, Ark. The family request that no memorial contributions be made. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.

Published April 10, 2018

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