According to his family, longtime Fox 13 reporter and Emmy-winning journalist Tom Dees passed away on Thursday in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Dees, a Mid-South writer with 32 years of experience, was hospitalized at the beginning of January and given diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a rare lung condition.
Dees’ friend and former coworker Earle Farrell of KWAM launched his show on Thursday afternoon’s “Earle Farrell 4Memphis Show” with TJ Cates to discuss recollections of Dees.
Dees was a “really gifted reporter who was able to catch the soul of every person he met,” according to Farrell. That’s what distinguished him… Knowing him is loving him.
Please keep the Dees family in your thoughts and prayers. A GoFundMe that has raised over $32,000 was set up to help Dees.
Tributes for Dees poured in on social media:
Scott Madaus a coworker and a good friend of Tom Dees wrote, “RIP Tom. Tom Dees was a coworker of mine for more than 10 years. He was also a very good friend of mine when I was in Memphis. I know y’all in Memphis and in the entire Midsouth loved Tom so very much.
Madaus continued, “He was truly a good man. Tom was an incredible person who loved his family more than anything in this world. And as a true storyteller at heart when reporting the news. My heart breaks for Tom’s wife and children. I’m glad to have known you, my friend. ”
Loretha Summers Torres said, “Part of my childhood consisted of listening to “This is Tom Dees with Fox Thirteeeeen News!” He was extremely sweet & friendly every time I met him. My condolences to his family & work family. You will be missed, Tom Dees! RIP.”
Tiffany Bramble wrote, “Rest easy, Tom Dees. Another good man has passed to the other side. I read that he had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. That’s the lung disease I have. So sad. He will be greatly missed.”
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