Merlon Clifford "Tommy" Tomson

Merlon Clifford "Tommy" Tomson passed away April 22, 2009, at his home in Benson, Ariz. Tommy was born Sept. 8, 1918, in Syracuse, Kan., to James Clifford and Doris (Hall) Tomson. He started in the hotel management business at a young age working as a night clerk at the Ames Hotel in Syracuse, Kan., earning $.50 a week. He eventually ended up in Santa Fe, N.M., managing the La Fonda Hotel. During WWII he took three years, three months and three days off from his hotel management to serve on the Navy troop transport ship, the Kilty as quartermaster of the bridge. In the mid '60s he moved to Las Cruces where he co-owned and managed the Palms Motor Hotel. As a widower, in 1969 he met and married the widow Theodora "Teddie" Ashby Black. They remained in Mesilla where Tommy honed his skills as a woodworker. His favorite place to be on Wednesdays and Saturdays was the Farmers Market on the downtown mall in Las Cruces. He was known to all as 'The Woodworker'. He and Teddie also built a cabin in the Gila Mountains where they loved to spend time. He was a Las Cruces city councilor, a member of the SKAL Club and put more memories in our lives than we have space to tell.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 40 years, Theodora Ashby Black Tomson; her four sons, Baxter (Cindy Lou) Black of Benson, Ariz., Bob (Stephanie Eubanks) Black of Cottonwood Ariz., John (Janice) Black of Amarillo, Texas, and Stephen Black of Dallas Texas; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Will) Cubbage, Jessica (Cody) Pershall, Jenna Black, James Black, Samantha Black , Guy Black; and one great-granddaughter, Ashby Graham. He is also survived by several brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews and friends.

Condolences can be sent to Teddie Tomson, PO Box 2190, Benson, AZ 85602.