TOMMY JOE (TJ) DENSON

Mar. 3, 1935 - Oct. 29, 2014

Tommy Joe (TJ) Denson age 79 passed away in La Jolla of natural causes on October 29, 2014 with family members by his bedside. Tommy had been living in El Centro for the past three years where he lived with his wife, Mary Lou Sanchez Denson, of Brawley. He was born on March 3, 1935 in Parsons, Kansas. His parents were Bessie and Thomas Denson. TJ had five siblings: John (Betty); Glenn (Becky); Mary (Clyde) Dyke; Juanita (Marlin) Hatcliff; and Betty (Norman) Racy, and numerous nieces and nephews, all still living in Oklahoma and Kansas. He attended Cleveland, Oklahoma schools and finished his education while in the Navy. He served one term and was stationed at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro. He joined the Brawley Fire Department in 1955. While working at the fire department, he also worked at Imperial Stores in Brawley and owned Denson's Locksmith. In 1991, after serving 36 years with the fire department, he retired as Chief. After he retired he lived in Texas for 20 years. TJ enjoyed deer hunting with his buddies every year in Washington, and pheasant and dove hunting locally. He sang and played guitar. For many years he belonged to the Masons, Elks Club and American Legion in Brawley. He is survived by his three children: Terri Denson, Traci (Dan) Gibbs of Brawley and Tommy G. Denson of San Diego and step-daughter Paula (Duane) Decker of Texas, also grandsons Jake Denson and Joseph Gibbs. He lost his cherished grandson, Blake Denson, in an auto accident in 2007. His first wife, Marie Smith Denson, passed away in 2011. Memorial services will be held at Frye Chapel in Brawley on Thursday, November 20th at 6 p.m.