Lakeside resident Thomas James Sumner succumbed to cancer on April 15.
Born August 13, 1942 in Christine, Texas, Sumner was raised along with his sister, Janie, by his grandparents, Venice and Tom Hale.
Sumner moved to San Antonio, Texas at the age of 11 and lived there until he moved to Guadalajara in July 1995. In 2003, he moved to Lakeside and opened the Chapala Consignment Shop two years later. His specialty was handling estate sales.
Sumner will be remembered most for his infectious laughter, his generous disposition, for helping his friends, both expatriates and Mexican, and as a businessman in the Lakeside community. Although not a member, he was immensely helpful to the people at American Legion Post 7 and Unit 7, and was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church.
His beloved sister, Janie Carruth, and her husband Bob Carruth, their parents and grandparents, precede him in death. His son, Thomas James Sumner II of San Antonio, Texas, and daughter Tamera Webb-Owings of Humble, Texas, and her husband Deano Owings, Jr. survive him. He is also survived by his half-sister Anna Lee Harrington of Nebraska. He leaves behind a very special nephew, Rocky Carruth of Houston, Texas and niece Pam and her husband Richard Johnson and niece Deborah Burnett, also from Texas; two grandsons, Cameron Fritz Webb, his wife, Channel, and Dalton Lee Sumner of Georgia, his granddaughter Chloe Lynn Webb, and great-grandchildren, Sadie Camryn Webb, Abigail Maria Bunch and Josey Bunch.
A memorial service will be held at the Lake Chapala Baptist Church on Tuesday April 28, 2 p.m. The church is located at Santa Margarita 147, Riberas del Pilar, across from the Carretera.