Thomas “Tom” James Scofield

Thomas “Tom” James Scofield passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the age of 71 years. Tom was born on July 6, 1946 in Cleveland, OH to Jean Brunner Scofield and the late T.J. Scofield. As the middle child of three, Tom loved spending time with his older sister, Terri, and younger brother, Patrick. At 12-years-old, Tom moved to Nederland, TX with his family, where he lived until later moving to Beaumont. He eventually chose to raise a family of his own in the Beaumont area.

After graduating from Nederland High School in 1964, Tom started college at Lamar University. Shortly thereafter, he chose to leave the safety of college to volunteer for the Marine Corps in order to join the fight in Vietnam. Tom served with distinction alongside his brothers in arms, and as an Infantry Marine he fought throughout 1967 and 1968 including in the fierce Battle of Hue City. During his service in the country he was shot on two different occasions, received numerous military distinctions including the Purple Heart Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, and M14 Sharp Shooter Rifle Badge. Over his own protests, not wanting to leave his fellow marines behind, he was honorably discharged and returned home in 1968. He loved the United States Marine Corps, his fellow Marines, and even a week before his death he was still swapping stories with a fellow Marine about their time serving in Vietnam. 

Returning to Beaumont after his tour in Vietnam, Tom re-enrolled at Lamar University and was a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. It was during his time at Lamar that he met a young woman named Kathy, who would later become his loving wife. Tom graduated from Lamar with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and married Kathy in 1969.

In 1970, Tom began his career as a patrolman for Beaumont Police Department. Tom ascended through the ranks of BPD as he held a number of positions including working undercover for the Narcotics Department, on the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.) as the S.W.A.T. Commander, and in 1993 he was hired as Chief of Police for Beaumont Police Department. He loved police work, he loved the department, and he considered his fellow officers to be not only friends and colleagues, but extended family. Tom spent 13 years as Chief of Police before retiring in 2005. After 35 years on the police force, Tom fulfilled his dream of moving to the country as he and Kathy retired to 27 acres of land in Kountze, TX.

Tom’s greatest love in life was his family. Tom and Kathy were blessed with two children, Kelli Kristine Scofield Jorden and Jason Patrick Scofield, and one grandson, Brinden Patrick Jorden. From hiking in the mountains of Colorado to celebrating Father’s Day annually at Crystal Beach, Tom loved going on family trips and spending time creating everlasting memories with his wife, children, grandson, and the many friends that joined him along the way.

Tom never met a stranger he didn’t like and he made friends everywhere he went. He loved hunting with his friends and son in the Piney Woods and the Texas Hill Country. He loved fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with his grandson and son-in-law. He was an avid scuba diver, a bad golfer, a master teller of tall tales, and avid runner, and two time marathon finisher. He loved gardening and planted a garden every spring. He loved animals, especially his Golden Retriever, Duke, who was given to him by his son, Jason, one Christmas.

As an active member of Pineridge Baptist Church, Tom enjoyed participating in Bible Study and accepted Jesus Christ into his heart as our Lord and Savior. Even after Tom’s cancer diagnosis in 2008 and their dream home burned to the ground in 2013, Tom’s faith remained strong. Tom’s perseverance to beat cancer delivered him to his 10-year anniversary as a cancer survivor and his determination helped he and Kathy rebuild their home.

Tom is survived by his mother Jean Scofield, his wife Kathy Scofield; his daughter Kelli Jorden, her husband Ben, and their son Brinden; his son Jason Scofield and his wife Angie; numerous other loving family members, and too many friends to count. Tom is preceded in death by his father, T.J. Scofield, older sister, Terri Griffis, and younger brother, Patrick Scofield.

The family will accept visitors at Broussard’s Mortuary on McFaddin before the funeral service on Tuesday, March 27th, from 3 to 5 pm. Following the visitation, the funeral service will be held at 5 o’clock in the evening at Broussard’s Mortuary. Cremation will follow at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions in Tom’s name are suggested to the 100 Club of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 3405, Beaumont, Texas 77704.