Thomas E. Gassaway, 82, died in his sleep Tuesday morning at his home in Pioneer.  Tom was the last of five boys born to Mary (Ballentyne) and Clayton Leroy Gassaway on November 3rd 1930 in Dayton, Ohio.   On October 10th 1953 Tom married Helen (Edinger) in Richmond, Indiana and she survives.  After graduation Tom honored his country and enlisted in the US Air Force, he served for 21 years being honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant.   For a number of years Tom worked with Pete Yeager at Yeager's Supermarket in Pioneer as a meat cutter.  He also worked and retired from Action Precision in Pioneer and was the Canteen Manager for the VFW in Pioneer. Tom was a life member of the VFW Post #8628 and the American Legion Post #207 both of Pioneer. Surviving is his wife Helen of Pioneer, three daughters Debra A. Gassaway of Silver City, NM, Tamara & Greg Clevenger of Camden, MI, and Robin T. (Les) Combest of Columbus, IN, four grandchildren Katie (Mark) Richardson, Megan (Chad) Reyna, Wade Clevenger and Shannon (Jaci) Jones and a great grandson Parker Jones. Tom is preceded in death by his parents and a grandson Shawn Jones, four brothers: Robert, Richard, Clayton and John Gassaway. Services for Tom will be on Friday, August 17th at 1:00pm at the Thompson Funeral Home in Pioneer with Reverend Michael Raypholtz to officiate.  Visitation hours will be on Friday from 11 am until the time of the service.   Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ransom Township, Michigan with Military graveside rites by the Pioneer Veterans.  Donations can be made to the Hospital Hospice or Meals on Wheels.