Tom Killian

After a long and eventful life, Tom Killian who was born on February 12, 1931, passed away peacefully at home on February 22, 2024, in the presence of Joraine (Jo), his loving wife of 68 years, and other family members.

Tom, who was forever known as Tommy to his many family members outside of Texas, was born and raised in Denver. He was the middle child of five born to Tom (Sr) and Agnes Killian.

Tom’s Jesuit upbringing directed his early path through Regis High School in Denver and Marquette University in Milwaukee.  Tom graduated from Marquette in 1952, at age 21, with a degree in mechanical engineering.

He was passionate about his immediate and extended family, his and Jo’s pecan orchard, his adopted home state of Texas and his beloved home state of Colorado, which he and Jo continued to visit and enjoy throughout Tom’s lifetime.

His engineering career brought him to Texas – specifically Amarillo - in the mid 1950’s.  It was there he met and married Joraine. They were married in Amarillo on February 11, 1956. In 1960 they moved to Lubbock, where the family grew to five members. 

In 1966 Tom and Jo bought acreage a short distance outside Lubbock, built a house and, true to Tom’s outside the box style of thinking, planted a pecan orchard in the heart of cotton country. Over the decades the orchard became very well known on the South Plains as the beautiful and unique Irish Acres.

Although he truly enjoyed his years as part of the community of people and companies that served the growing electric power needs of West Texas, Tom took a bold entrepreneurial step in his early 40’s when he went all-in for the pecan business, leaving the safety of a paycheck behind.  He and Jo expanded Irish Acres from an orchard to include a pecan shelling operation.  The Irish Acres brand would go on to become well-recognized regionally.

Throughout the years, Tom loved staying in touch with Denver relatives, many of whom relished coming to see Tom and Jo and the Texas pecan orchard.  In Tom’s later years he was welcomed into a Sunday morning coffee club by a group of men that became very close friends.

Tom credited his longevity and good health to having Joraine by his side and to living in the middle of a pecan orchard that kept him working every day, which he enjoyed doing well into his 80’s.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his three sisters, Ann, Mary and Patty (his childhood mischief partner) and his brother Kieran. He is survived by his wife Joraine; children, Kevin and wife Kathy of Richmond, TX, Dan and wife Susan of Plano, TX, and Kelley Braziel and husband Paul of Midland, TX; grandchildren, Matt Killian (Kristi), Aaron Killian (Amy), Shelly Sully (Colin), Sarah Killian, Bryce Killian, Grayson Braziel and Layth Braziel; eight great grandchildren, each of whom he was blessed to get to know during his lifetime; and, 14 nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Lubbock - specifically ShaRae Madewell, whom Tom and Joraine grew to think of as a beloved member of the family. 

For those who would like to honor Tom’s life and legacy, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Lubbock or Lubbock Meals on Wheels.

According to Tom’s wishes, no services are to be held.