Thomas James Floria

Thomas James Floria of Paragould, Arkansas, passed away October 28, 2016 at the age of 71 after a long battle with colon cancer.

Tom was born December 24, 1944, in Munising, Michigan, to Vernon Almond Floria and Margaret Dean Floria. He attended Munising High School, Albion College and received his MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Dolaskie, in 1965. He served in the army during the Vietnam War. When he returned, he lived in Wisconsin for many years, where he worked for J.I. Case and later for Gilson Manufacturing.

He married for a second time to Terry Tripod of Paragould, Arkansas in 1991 and made a home for themselves in a log cabin. During this time, he was the plant manager at Arkla Products in Paragould. After a stint as owner-operator of Mallard Manufacturing, he became the leader of The Solutions Group at Arkansas Northeastern Community College.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother, Dean Floria and sister, Carol Smathers. He is survived by his wife, Terry Floria, sister, Phyllis Disher (Peter); children, Kristi Floria, Jenny Floria (Wayne Horsman), Tracy Tyler Johnson (Danny), Jessica Tyler Pierce (Chris), and Geoff Tyler; grandchildren Tim “L.B.” Cross, Kimberly Cross, Sam Camp, Presley Pierce, Lindsey Horsman, Marissa Horsman; great-granddaughter, Lillian Mixon, and more nieces and nephews than can be named here, but whose significance in his life is no less important.

Tom will be remembered for his ability to make ordinary life events extraordinary through his storytelling. His nicknames for plants, trees, equipment and people in his life are legendary in their originality and use.

A service and commitment of his ashes to the earth is planned for July 2017 in Munising, Michigan, his beloved hometown. Memorials can be made to the Greene County Animal Farm or to the Colon Cancer Alliance. If you knew Tom, honor his memory by “gabooning” (visiting) with your loved ones and raising a glass “to the occasion.”