Thomas Francis Duprez

Thomas Francis Duprez was the oldest son born in Waltham, Mass., to Donald and Phylis (Bennett) Duprez on Nov. 16, 1946. There would be three more sons and the family would move to La Mirada, Calif., where Tom and his brothers went to school. He graduated from La Mirada High School in 1964. He was drafted into the army in 1966 and served his time at Fort Rucker in Alabama.

Tom and Nancy (Hamilton) Duprez were married in 1968 and had two sons, Mark Thomas and Craig Robert. They divorced in 1979. Tom then married Cathy Bailey and moved to Seattle, Wash.

Cathy's 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer, became Tom's daughter in his heart and remained there until he died. He was especially close to his mother-in-law, Helen Erickson.

When the marriage to Cathy dissolved after 30 years, he moved to Glasgow, to be near his sons. He lived with Mark and their house became the man cave every man dreams of. There were card games and ping pong games just about every evening. The ping pong table in the middle of the living room was a permanent fixture. Then there was Saturday night "Fight Night" on pay-per-view and Monday night Texas Hold 'Em with a group of guys, all of which was usually followed by gourmet and delicious food. The original family of Tom, Nancy, Mark and Craig enjoyed many meals and holidays together over the past few years.

He was known for his great cooking. Some of his recipes had been handed down from his mother, who was a fabulous cook also. He was the guy who brought out-of-this-world breakfast burritos to his sons and Nancy, including some of their coworkers.

He had a quick sense of humor. Not only did he enjoy laughing but loved to make the people around him laugh. He was a sharp card player, a really gifted pool player, and in his younger days, a great left-handed softball pitcher.

He enjoyed ordering special spices from Penzeys online and trying them out in his special dishes. He had a stockpile of clever and meaningful greeting cards. He sent his friends and family special cards for every occasion and sometimes just because the card let the person know he was thinking of them.

After a bout with the flu in 1991, he was diagnosed with heart damaging myocarditis. He became a house husband and spent everyday shopping at the grocery store. He continued that tradition in Glasgow. He carefully shopped for bargains at both grocery stores and then went home to cook a delicious meal. Everywhere he lived he knew the people who worked at the grocery store, from the produce to the meat department. He always had a special "this or that" he wanted them to order.

The damage done by the myocarditis became an overwhelming problem and he spent the last nine months fighting for his life in Salt Lake City. He fought a courageous battle but had to give up on Dec. 5, 2013. His son, Craig, was at his side and his other children were there in spirit. Tom will be missed and loved by all who knew him.

He is survived by his sons, Mark Duprez and Craig Duprez of Glasgow; one daughter, Jennifer McCall of Joplin, Mo.; brothers, Michael Duprez and his wife, Bobbi, Donald Duprez, and Jerry Duprez and his wife, Denel; two grandsons, Taylor Bailey and Dillon Hines; one granddaughter, Hanna Elizabeth Duprez; one great-granddaughter, Penelope Rae Duprez; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Later there will be a quiet get together with his family and friends to cook and enjoy his favorite foods. A tree will be planted in his honor - all as he requested.