Thomas Joe Applegate, age 63, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, November 2, 2018, at his home.

He was born September 8, 1955, in Ft. Scott, the son of Thomas C. Applegate and Frances Jo Mason Applegate.

Tom married Deborah Elaine Lee on August 1, 1980, at Miami, Oklahoma.

He had served with the United States Army. Tom dedicated his life to public service. He began his career in firefighting with the Merriam, Kansas Fire Department. He then served with the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department and the Ft. Scott Police Department. He later moved to the Branson area where he was employed by the Hollister Police Department and volunteered for the Western Taney County Fire Department and also worked for the Forsythe Police Department. Tom later returned to Ft. Scott and worked for the Scott Township Fire Department where he served as Chief.

He enjoyed reading Western novels and watching Western movies.

Survivors include his children Mark King and wife, Michelle, of Moscow, Tennessee; Marie Unruh, of Gridley, Kansas; Ashley Kline and husband, Robert, of Ft. Scott and Keith Applegate and wife, Latisha, of Chanute, Kansas; sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother David Applegate of Hollister, Missouri and two sisters, Una Fullmer and husband, Jim, of Highlandville, Missouri and Melanie McDaniel and husband, Rick, of Ft. Scott.

His wife, Deborah, preceded him in death on May 29, 2003. He was also preceded in death by two sons, David and Mason Unruh, a brother, Kenneth Applegate and a sister, Georgia Applegate.

William James Schafer will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 6^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Scott Township Fire Department and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.