ONAGA – Thomas "Jeff" Comer, 77, of Onaga, died Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

He was born March 2, 1943 in Portsmouth, Virginia, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Julia Lois Awtry Comer. Jeff's father died at a young age. Both his grandfather, James Woody Awtry, and later his step-father, Joe Corcoran were important father figures in his life. He graduated from Frederick Military Academy in Portsmouth and attended William and Mary College. He earned a bachelor's degree in Social Science from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

Jeff was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., and the Masonic Lodge, all in Onaga.

Jeff worked as a film photographer for a T.V. station in Wilmington, NC and Raleigh, NC. He moved to Kansas City and worked in film making documentaries. He also worked at an advertising agency in Topeka. After moving from Kansas City to Wilmington and back, he and his family moved to Onaga in 1994 to take over the local hardware store. He and his wife owned and operated Onaga Hardware for twenty-six years until they closed the store.

Jeff married Janice L. Harder in July of 1974 in Onaga. She survives, of the home.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Michael "Mickey" Corcoran.

Other survivors include a son, James Michael "Mickey" Comer (Emily), Galveston, TX; a daughter, Lynda Catherine "Katie" Comer King (Adam), Shawnee; three sisters, Lynda Walker (Chuckie), Mary Corcoran, and Patricia Smith (Lou), all of Wilmington, NC; and three grandchildren.

Masonic graveside services with military honors in Onaga Cemetery will be private. Jeff will lie in state until 6:00 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Onaga. Memorials are suggested to the Onaga V.F.W./American Legion, or the Onaga Masonic Lodge, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 312, Onaga, KS 66521.