Thomas Shircliff, Sr.

Thomas Arden Shircliff, Sr. (Maj, USAF, Ret.) of North Little Rock, Arkansas passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Frances Shircliff, sisters Elaine, Sylvia Lyon, Mary Frances “Frankie” Clower, Carole McDade-Miller, and son Thomas A. Shircliff, Jr. (Lt. Col. USAF, Ret.).

He is survived by his wife Sherry Houser Shircliff, daughters Dian Shircliff, Lauren Caton (Sean), Tricia Greene (Chris), son Cullen Shircliff (Sara Jane), and daughter-in-law Kristine Shircliff. Among his five children, Tom had fifteen grand- children and nine great-grandchildren living across the US, from coast to coast.

Visitation is at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd at Smith Funeral Home. North Little Rock Mass is 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 23rd at St. Jude Catholic Church, Jacksonville, Arkansas, In lieu of flowers, Tom requested donations may be made to: St. Scholastic Monastery, 1315 Smith Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 73902 St. Jude Catholic Church, 2403 McArthur Dr., Jacksonville, AR 72076 Jacksonville Museum of Military History, 100 Veterans Circle, Jacksonville, AR 72076.

Tom was born in Cumberland, MD on July 24, 1934 He graduated from Lasalle High School and attended the University of Maryland before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Tom began his military career stationed at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX. During his 28 years in the Air Force, Tom was first a navigator before becoming qualified as a pilot flying KC-135 air refueling tankers. Notably, he was part of a squadron that kept tankers in the air during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. Later, he spent several tours of duty in Southeast Asia in the mid-60’s before being stationed in Bien Hoa, Viet Nam as a forward air controller piloting an OV-10 Bronco. For his service to the country in Viet Nam, Tom was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and an active member of the Ira C. Eiger Chapter of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, Little Rock, Arkansas.

During his career as an Air Force officer, the Shircliff family made homes on Strategic Air Command bases in many exotic locales including Topeka, KS, Homestead, FL, Rapid City, SD, and Altus, OK before his retirement in 1974 and settling with the family in Dallas. After his military retirement, Tom held several positions supporting children and families including Director of Development at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, where he was honored to receive the inaugural John F. Kennedy Memorial Award for Outstanding Service in the Bishop Lynch Community.

Tom married Sherry on May 23, 1981 and relocated to North Little Rock, Arkansas where he traveled the state on behalf of the Methodist Children’s Home. He served as the Executive Director for Arkansas Seniors Organized for Progress where he rattled more than a few chains advocating for the rights of senior citizens and educating groups on Medicare fraud.

Tom was on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care; and also on the Board of Directors for Alzheimer’s Arkansas. He was a faithful volunteer for Arkansas Hospices, where he was awarded Arkansas Hospice Volunteer of the Year. He also received the Sister Pierre Vorster Award in recognition of outstanding volunteer service. He enjoyed his volunteer time at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, where he cheerfully Greeted thousands of visitors during his time there.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. 501-758-1170.