Thomas Lines

Thomas Wray Lines passed away at his home in Thatcher Sept. 27 after a long battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 30, 1949, in Mesa, Arizona, to Milo and Lena Skousen Lines. He joined older brothers Richard and John Wayne, and sister Milene. 

Educated in the Chandler schools, Tom played sports and also enjoyed roping calves, as the family operated a ranch near Bagdad, Arizona. Tom graduated from Chandler High in 1967 and spent a year at Mesa Community College on a baseball scholarship before being called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Guatemala and El Salvador. 

After his mission he attended Brigham Young University, Thomas Wray Lines played baseball for the Cougars, and graduated in 1975 with a degree in agri-business. He worked with his father on the family ranch and also spent time helping his brother, John Wayne, on his farm in Duncan, where he met the love of his life, Gwen Foote Lines. 

They were married August 3, 1979. They lived at the ranch but moved back to Chandler where their son, Milo, was born. The family circle was completed with the addition of daughters Lindsay and Lacy. With their children grown, Tom and Gwen moved to Gwen's hometown of Duncan. Tom worked for Freeport-MacMoran in Morenci, retiring in 2016. 

Besides playing and watching sports, Tom was a gifted musician, accompanying himself on the guitar while singing, often duets with wife, Gwen. Tom was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in leadership roles as well as teaching Sunday school classes for many years. He is survived by his wife, Gwen, and children Milo (Amy) Lines; Lindsay (Chad) Butterfield; and Lacy (Paul) Ebert; eleven grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his sister Milene Olsen. 

A funeral service will be held Friday, Oct. 4 at 10:00am at the Thatcher LDS Stake Center, with internment following in the Thatcher Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of McDougal/Caldwell Funeral Home.