Claude Thomas (Tom) Sanson passed away on March 22, 2022. He was born on January 27, 1950, the son of Paul William and Doris Fay Clevenger Sanson. Tom was a 1969 graduate of Breckenridge High School in Breckenridge, MO. He attended Chillicothe Vocational-Technical School, receiving his HVAC certification in 1971. After graduation, Tom was employed by Cox Medical Center in Springfield for one year. He then began his HVAC career with Botts & Tye Corporation in Chillicothe, where he worked for 31 years. He knew all his customers by name, address and equipment; and enjoyed visiting with them in their homes or out in the community. Following retirement, he owned & operated his own grain truck and spent many hours on the road hauling for local farmers and for MFA in Hale. Most recently, he worked for the Chillicothe Housing Authority, continuing to use his HVAC knowledge along with whatever maintenance was called for. Tom was united in marriage to his soul mate Beth Edwards on August 16, 1968, in Chillicothe. He is survived by his wife Beth of the home, son Paul Allen Sanson and wife Barbie and their children Maximus Kolbe, Augustus David and Blaise Thomas of Lee’s Summit, MO; Scott Thomas Sanson and Shelly Mattes of Chillicothe and children Jade Thomas Sanson and Kelsi Nicole Sanson of Kansas City, MO; and Noelle Mattes of Grand Island Nebraska; brother T.J. Sanson and his wife Rhonda of Breckenridge; sister-in-law Donna Sanson of Roland, Oklahoma; sister Ruth Wheelbarger of Arkansas; mother-in-law Faye Posey of Chillicothe; sister-in-law Diane Kerns of Hale, MO; sister-in-law Linda Sapp of Liberty, MO; sister and brother-in law Jane and Bill Cozad of Warrensburg, MO and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Doris Sanson, brothers Forest Green, David Green, Leo Sanson and sister Dollie Durnil. Tom could play the part of a grizzly bear when you met him, but those who were lucky enough to get to know him found a loving heart under that rough exterior. If you watched closely, you could catch him slipping a $20 bill into the pocket of his sons or grandchildren to help them with gas on the return trip from a visit with Grandpa. He had a particular soft spot for children and was always the volunteer enlisted to accompany the kids on the largest roller-coaster or down the steepest water slide. He taught all his family to live life with a sense of humor and truly lived his motto of never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. Tom was a past member of the Mt. Olive United Methodist Church and later at the Chillicothe United Methodist Church in Chillicothe. He attended Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in rural Chillicothe in his later years. A Memorial Service will be held on April 23, 2022 at 3:00pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Chillicothe. A Celebration of Life ceremony will follow from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Condolences may be sent to the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Livingston County Cancer Assistance c/o The United Methodist Church, 1414 Walnut Street, Chillicothe, MO 64601 or Liberty Hospital Tree House c/o Liberty Hospital Foundation, 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, MO 64068.