Thomas George Aylott

Thomas George Aylott, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Circle of Life Legacy Village, Bentonville, Ark. He was born Dec. 24, 1932, in London, England, to Thomas Frederick and Emily Elizabeth Aylott. Tom was a clothing store manager in England and immigrated to Australia in 1969. He became a Christian in 1971 and enrolled at Woolwich Bible College in Sydney. He met his wife, Pat Prunty, while she was teaching music at the college. They were married in Iowa in 1979, and Tom received his BSL degree at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo., in 1982. Tom held ministries in Canada, Oregon, Missouri and Arkansas. While in Oregon, he became a U.S. citizen in 1986. After a move to Bella Vista in 1987, Tom worked for J.B. Hunt in fuel management and retired from there in 2002. He continued to preach on a supply basis after retirement. He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; two brothers, David and Charles; and one sister, Ellen. Survivors include his wife, Pat; daughter, Emily Alexander and husband, Matthew, of Pflugerville, Texas; daughter, Debbie Goode and son, Mark Aylott, both of Australia; sisters, Ruth Driscoll and Peggy MacDonnell of England; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at the Bella Vista Church of Christ on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, from noon until the service time at 1 p.m., with Randall Caselman and Charles Cash officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Garden Cemetery in Bella Vista. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. Memorials may be made to Ozark Christian College, 1111 N. Main, Joplin, MO 64801; or Haitian Christian Mission, P.O. Box 880808, Boca Raton, FL 33488. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.