George A. ‘Tommy’ Hembree, 70, died unexpectedly at his home January 25, 2020. He was born June 24, 1949, in Pratt, to George Alvin and Velma Elizabeth (Shirk) Hembree, Sr.
Tommy graduated from Pratt High School in 1968 and Central Vocational School in 1969. He was a resident of Hutchinson since 1970. Tommy retired as a forklift driver for Cargill Salt. Currently, he worked for Buhler Unified School District 313 as a bus driver, spending the past five years driving for Prairie Hills Middle School. Tommy was a handyman, who loved to garden, work in his yard, camp, fish, and build ‘stuff’.
Tommy served in the United States Navy, during the Vietnam War, from 1969 to 1973, where he received many honors.
On February 16, 1980, he married Thelma Merlene Leeper in Hutchinson. You never saw Tommy without Thelma. They enjoyed almost 40 years of marriage.
Tommy is survived by: wife, Thelma of Hutchinson; daughter, Amenda Jo Ann Lobstein of Oklahoma City, OK; three stepchildren (who looked at him as their father figure, Daniel Hauck of Great Bend, Mike Cooper of Hutchinson, Kelly Clevenger (Milton) of Colwich; sisters, Gail Stuart (Steve) of Wichita; Barbara Hembree of Washington State; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; granddaughters, Chanasty Lobstein; great-granddaughter, Faith Reed; and stepson, Robert Hauck.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2020, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson. Burial will follow, with a graveside service at 1:30 p.m. at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt, with military honors conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Monday at Elliott Mortuary. Memorials may be made to the George Hembree Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.