Thomas Lett Jr.

Thomas H. Lett Jr., 84, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born April 12, 1924, in St. Louis, son of Thomas H. and Evelyn Miller Lett. He and Mary Lou Caldwell were married Dec. 14, 1952, in Piggott, Ark.

Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy upon graduating from Morley High School in 1942. He received wings and commission as a fighter pilot in November 1943. His F4F airplane crashed Feb. 10, 1943. He spent February 1944 until November 1945 receiving reconstructive surgery for his injuries. He retired as an ensign in 1945.

He received a bachelor of science in vocational agriculture at the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1955. He taught vocational agriculture at Delta High School from 1955 to 1957 and at Kelly High School from 1957 to 1960.

Tom started his career in the Department of Agriculture in 1960, first as office manager at ASCS in Scott County, Mo. He was an employment development officer in Washington, D.C., from 1965 to 1971. While in that position he was detailed to the executive office of the president from 1969 to 1971. He received a promotion to employee development specialist at the Kansas City field office from 1971 to 1977. In 1977 he was head of Grain Export Claims Division and retired in 1978.

He graduated with master's degrees in human relations and counseling service in 1975 from Webster College, while working in the Department of Agriculture.

In 1978 he started Tom Lett Nursery in Cape Girardeau. Tom also was a professor at Southeast Missouri State University from 1979 to 1980. He taught agriculture courses. He continued with his tree nursery into the late 1990s.

Tom was a Master Mason in the Scottish Rite since 1945. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou Lett of Cape Girardeau; a son, Paul Lett of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Scarlett Puls and husband Charley of Cape Girardeau; and a granddaughter, Selina M. Lett of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Thomas H. Lett III.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Sanderson officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.