Eulan Fail

Eulan T. (Tom) Fail passed away on April 17. Born 29 October 1929 to Homer and Odessa (Roberts) Fail in Jones County, Texas, he attended rural elementary and high schools. At age 18 he met Truda Gray, then 16, at choir practice. They married three years later in Anson, Texas 20 March 1951. Following graduation from Hardin-Simmons University 1951 he enlisted in the Army and trained at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas earning qualification as a 105 Howitzer Cannoneer. Later, earning a commission at Fort Benning, Georgia, he and Truda moved around the country, and France, to various assignments and making friends.

They raised two beautiful and wonderful daughters whose devotion to Jesus was gratifying as was their marriage to good men of the same persuasion.

Retired at Fort Huachuca after 28 years of service he had assignments with the Artillery, Infantry, and Signal Corps. His foreign service included Korea - twice, France, and Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star, 1st Oak Leaf Cluster and the Legion of Merit, 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster. He was also awarded the Chungmu with Silver Star by the Republic of Korea.

He and Truda returned to this area in 1977 overjoyed to learn that Sierra Vista had become a Mecca for old friends. They became active in the community giving them opportunities to make new friends. This was especially true when Truda became a member of the Stitchers. Tom always loved music. Singing from a young age, he attending “singings” with his family at local churches until his voice changed from alto to tenor. In High School he was the “song leader” at his church. In college he played piano and organ for his church’s youth choir. In the Army he sang in several choirs including Chapel choirs in France and Fort Huachuca. He also enjoyed singing with the Sierra Vista Meistersingers choral group.

He held a number of offices in the Coronado Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. And he served as a commissioner with the Sierra Vista Arts and Humanities Commission being responsible for production of the Commission’s Annual Sierra Vista Youth Talent Show for three years. He enjoyed serving as a Director on the board of the Huachuca Museum Society and as treasurer of the annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. He was a member of the Sierra Vista Symphony Association, and a patron of the former Sierra Vista Regional Health Center Foundation, and the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering.

In 2012 he was blessed to meet another wonderful and faithful Christian woman, Chae Dietrich where they attended the First Baptist Church. They were married on 29 August 2014. They enjoyed the Sierra Vista Symphony, early morning workouts at Barnes Field House followed by breakfast at Burger King, fellowship with friends and members of the First Baptist Church, and poetry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bob, and his wife Truda. He is survived by Chae; daughters Laura Shaffer (David), of Arvada Colorado, and Sarah Dimond (Jeff), of Roswell, Georgia; step-daughter Tai Dietrich, of San Diego, California; three grandsons: Scott Shaffer, Ian Shaffer, and Collin Shaffer; sister-in- law Chae Un Engelhart; and nieces Jenny Eubank, Julie Mathews, and Nancy Gray.

Funeral services will be held at Sierra Vista First Baptist Church at 3 pm on Monday, April 30 with burial at a later date in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Anson, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sierra Vista Symphony: PO Box 895, Sierra Vista, AZ 85636 or to First Baptist Church, 1447 S 7th St, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635.

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