Tom O'Gara was a veteran of the Pacific theater in WWII.  His company landed with the marines to build roads and landing strips for the troops.  His stories of the war were about the funny parts.  That army had its share of goldbricks, misfits, and complainers, but they changed history.  After 30 months in the army, he returned to Pensacola to buy a house with the army pay his wife Willie Anderson had saved.  They paid $66.63 a month for 30 years and burned the mortgage.  They reared in faith three daughters who walked to school, played in the neighborhood, left for college and married from that house.  Tom served on the city council, refereed high school football and baseball, and retired as plant manager from the Escambia County School System.  In 2001 Tom and Willie moved to Harahan, LA to live next door to their daughter.  After nearly 60 years of marriage, Willie died in 2002.  He is survived by Nancy O'Gara Berault, her children Charles and Eleanor Berault and a great-granddaughter; by Jane O'Gara and Robert Brown, who was his friend, golf partner and son-in-law and their children Greg Brown and his wife Michelle and a great-granddaughter, Cuyler Brown and her husband Joe Romeo; by Patricia O'Gara and Garry Thrash and their children Patrick Morales, Daniel and David Thrash; and by Cora Neal, his caretaker, who enriched and protected his life until his death.  Upon hearing of his passing his brother-in-law Lance Anderson said, "He was a good guy," which is exactly what Tom often said of others.  Our parents were stoic, dutiful and responsible.  We used to think that we could do it better, and now we can only hope to do it was well as they did.  These were extraordinary ordinary people.  Graveside committal of cremains will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2008 at St. John's Cemetery.