Thomas (Tommy) Monroe was born January 27, 1940 in Sylacuga, Alabama to John T. (JT) Monroe and Frances Singleton. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother. His family was his first priority. Tommy was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Orange. He was a hard worker and started working when he was twelve years old as a grocery bagger at Weingartens. Tommy rode his scooter with his brother, Butch, to deliver his paper route. He worked for Bayer for 35 years as a process control foreman and a production operator before retiring in 2001.

Tommy loved to drag race in his younger years and in his later years began restoring classic cars. He always loved to work on his cars and with his tools and hands. He was very mechanically inclined. Tommy was a member of the National Guard for six years.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Orange with Father Daleo presiding. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange on Sunday, April 12th from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. A vigil and rosary will be at 5:00 p.m. conducted by Deacon Hazen Kenney, Deacon Eddie Blankenstein and Deacon Harvey Dubois.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Faye Monroe Hughes, and brother, James Monroe and daughter, Staci Monroe Windham.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Carol Rolando Monroe, daughter, Julie Monroe Underwood and husband, Jason of Bridge City, granddaughters, Lexie Windham and Cadence Underwood, his sister, Judy Monroe Pietz of Coppell and brother, John (Butch) Monroe and wife, Charlotte of Port Neches, son-in-law, Todd Windham and a host of special friends.

He is also survived by his faithful furry friends Sasha, Tasha, and Smokey

Serving as pallbearers will be Nelson Bernard, Ernest Gauthier, Raymond Gilbeaux, Scott Jackson III, Lawrence Mc Shan, Gerald Thomas, and Jason Underwood. Honorary pallbearers are Billy Joe Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen at 912 West Cherry Avenue Orange, TX 77630 or Orange Christian Services 2518 W. Park Ave. Orange, TX 77630.

The family would like to send a special thanks to the ER staffs of Christus St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur and Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital of Beaumont. They would also like to send a special thank you to Christus St. Elizabeth ICU nurses Nancy, Melena, and Bob and to Dr. Chavis and the two sweet nurses on the fourth floor who cared for Tommy in his last hours. They were all God’s special angels sent to us. As well as a special thank you to my wonderful family and friends who were there to support us.