Thomas Houser

Thomas M. ‘Tommy’ Houser, 52, passed away 6:37 a.m. Thursday, February 27, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur.

Celebration of Life services will be at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the Sullivan First United Methodist Church with Vanessa Patient and Brigham Hagerman officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. There will be a law enforcement only walk through at 4:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Law Enforcement Scholarship in honor of Tommy Houser at the Sullivan First Community Bank. Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Tom was born March 3, 1967 in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Thomas R. and Nona Bodine Houser. Tom married Elizabeth Myers on June 18, 1988 in Decatur, Illinois. He was a member of the Sullivan Faith Lutheran Church, F.O.P. Lodge #41, Teamsters Local 700, the Moultrie County Dive Team and had been a Moultrie County Dare Officer.

Tom’s career spanned more than 31 years of dedicated Law Enforcement service to the citizens of Illinois, starting with the Sullivan Police Department, then with the Moultrie County Sheriff’s Department and retired from the Illinois State Police on October 1, 2019. Upon graduating from Cadet Class 100, Tom was assigned to District 10 Patrol. In 2002 Tom transferred to Zone 5 Investigations where he served in the capacity of the Methamphetamine Response Team. In 2007 Tom became a Hostage Negotiator for the Illinois State Police. In 2009 he took command of the East Central Illinois Task Force (ECITF). In 2015 he became the Zone 5 Lieutenant and transitioned with the Department to the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) where he proudly remained for the duration of his career. Through his career, he was awarded a Life Saving Award, a Department Commendation, multiple Letters of Appreciation and a Certificate of Recognition. Tom’s hard work and knowledge did not go unnoticed and earned his promotion to Sergeant in 2006, Master Sergeant in 2009, and Lieutenant in 2018. In 2015 he served as the Chief of Staff for Colonel Jill Rizzs. Tom supervised General Criminal Investigations, the East Central Illinois Task Force and the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Throughout these years, he consistently performed his duties to the highest standards and personally epitomized the tenets of Integrity, Service, and Pride.

Survivors include his wife Elizabeth, sons Kyler T. Houser and Kedrick H. Houser and his fiancé Keeley Benning all of Sullivan; mother Nona Houser of Decatur; father-in-law James Myers (Helen) of Dundee, Florida; brother Richard L. (Justi) Houser of Decatur; sister Michele (Chris) Brownlow of Decatur; step-brother James (Karen) Hancock of Fairfax, Virginia; niece Raeshel (Stephen) Duncan of Decatur; nephews Dominick (Tabatha) Braden, Austin Cory (Robin) and Dalton Brownlow, all of Decatur; great niece Layne Cory and a great niece expected in June; great nephews Cannon and Talon Bradon, special aunt Maggie Myers, several other beloved aunts and uncles and our friends that are family and our LEO families.

He was preceded in death by his father Thomas R. Houser; mother-in-law Nancy Myers and his maternal and paternal grandparents.