Our hero, Cecil “Tom” Thomas Litchfield, extraordinary story & joke teller left us on January 13, 2023. We are certain the first thing he did was tell God his latest joke & then a grandkid story as these were his favorite things to do on this earth.
Dad was born to Lloyd Thomas & Helen June (Reynolds) Litchfield on November 27, 1940, in a farmhouse north of Preston, KS. He loved telling people he wasn’t born in a city, but on the NE corner of the farmstead and his sister Lucretia on the SW corner, in Pratt County. He spent his youth in Cunningham KS., before his family moved to Medicine Lodge, KS., where he graduated High School in 1958. Dad enjoyed his HS reunions & the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty & treasured the decades of friendships he had with his former classmates. After graduation, Dad served in the Army in Germany from 1962-1965, being honorably discharged, then spent 3 years in the Army reserves. He decided to continue his education at Hutchinson Community College & graduated from Salt City Business College. He worked in various salt plants for 35 years before retiring. During retirement, Dad delivered/picked up cars for Midwest that took him daily to different towns across KS & NE. The Rural Messenger was his final ‘job,’ working for one of his best friends, the late Mike Alfers. He liked to joke that he started his working career as a paper delivery boy and ended it the same way.
Dad married Judy Ewing on November 27,1967, to this union they had twin daughters Sheila & Sonya. They later divorced but remained lifelong friends, spending holidays & family events together. At one of the dinners his granddaughter asked him, do you know my Grandma Judy, to which he replied, Yeah, I might have met her before. Humor & sarcasm were staples in our family, most often referring to Dad’s stellar driving skills. Dad tried marriage two more times, but alas he was meant to be single and ready to mingle! He loved telling us that each of our marriages are longer than the three of his combined.
Dad felt his greatest blessings after his twins were his grandkids, Tara Esguerra (Josh Hearne), Jacob Goalden (Spencer), Cody Martin (Sara), Kaitlynn Goalden, & Darion Esguerra (Bailey). His 2nd favorite title after Dad was Papa & were the absolute joys of his life. He spent his time going to all their various sporting events. He was often heard from the stands telling the refs what a wonderful job they were doing in his own special “Tom” way. The joke was whichever daughter’s kid was playing had to sit with Papa to keep him controlled & not get thrown out. He traveled many miles watching his grandkids in whatever sport they were playing. He loved watching them play football, softball, baseball, basketball, & volleyball. Fridays were “breakfast with Papa” day. When they reached school age, then it was Sunday lunch with Papa. He would squeeze in breakfasts, lunches & dinners whenever they were available. His great-grandkids, Aydan Wieser, Patch Esguerra, Maverick Esguerra, Delaynie Goalden, Porter Goalden, & Ezra Martin lit up his world more. He loved to travel, do trips to Dubuque, IA. & Watford City, ND to see them were no problem.
Dad turned his life over to his higher power & AA on May 16, 1967 & began his 12 steps to his sobriety. He became dedicated to helping so many others with theirs, until the day he died, with 55.5 years of sobriety. He went all over KS and to many states for meetings & annual conventions, he met lifelong friends who became chosen family. In 2004, he fell off a porch and broke both of his shoulders & an elbow. When the Dr. was stitching his face, he told Dad he would be sending him over to the hospital for surgery. Dad informed him he needed to wait until Monday, he’d not missed the Salina Round Robin in 19 years & he didn’t intend to miss this one. Short story, he only got a 19 yr. run streak with that Round Robin! Going anywhere would turn into a 2-hour event, as Dad would run into a friend or two. Instacart would have been awesome back when we were growing up – HA! Dad took us to so many states, & one year to Canada for vacation. We walked into a restaurant to eat, & someone called out “Hey Tom, good to see you,” we couldn’t even catch a break in another country- HA! We did enjoy the benefits of Dad’s meetings though, we got to meet a real-life Canadian Mountie & hold so many more of his treasured friends in our hearts forever!
When the Dr. came in to tell Dad the severity of his diagnosis & that without surgery, he would only have 2-5 days left, Dad didn’t miss a beat & said no to surgery. Dad told him since there were no guarantees he would survive the surgery, he had lived a very blessed life, he was good. Instead, he chose the next days to be with his family & friends, saying his goodbye’s, his way. We had 29 amazing days with him. Dad’s favorite thing to say during this time was that he couldn’t even die right & that he was flunking hospice. We are grateful for the love & care that Dad received at Pleasant View & Hospice House. The nurses & staff were fabulous & made his last days on this earth comfortable, peaceful, & full of love. We cannot thank everyone enough for all the care.
He is survived by his daughters & their spouses: Sheila & Augie Esguerra, Sonya & Mike Goalden; his beloved grandchildren & great grandchildren; sister, Helen Howell, brother-in-law, Frank Sheehy, & many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins & friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lucretia Sheehy, & brother-in-law, James T. Howell.
Per his wishes, Dad has been cremated & did not want a funeral. But we are having a come & go Celebration of Life at Inman Community building in Lambert Park, Inman KS, on Saturday, January 21 from 1- 4 p.m., with an AA meeting from 1-2 p.m. You can sign his book at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter/rescue, Hutchinson Hospice House, Pleasant View in Inman, AA, Oxford Houses, or your favorite charity and these can be sent in care of Hutchinson Funeral Chapel, 300 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67502. Dad loved animals, & now has been reunited with his 3 beloved rescue dogs, Molly, Rocky & Buck. Full obituary is at www. hutchinsonfc.com.
