John Thomas "Tom" McNally, age 88, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tom was born on August 12, 1936, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to parents Harold Joseph "Mac" McNally and Mary Louise (Neely) McNally. He graduated from Marquette High School in Tulsa and continued his education at his beloved University of Notre Dame. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Missouri School of Mines. He enjoyed a long career as a petroleum engineer and both onshore and offshore well specialist with companies that took him to Kansas, Oklahoma, South Texas and South Louisiana. He truly enjoyed the many challenges in the industry and the numerous fellow workers he encountered. It was in South Louisiana where he discovered his love of Cajun food and the wonders of tabasco sauce.

He made Houston, Texas, his home for much of his adult life. He enjoyed numerous activities from church to sports to just walking in Memorial Park. His sport of choice was tennis where he always enjoyed meeting friends on the court for a match. He was a longtime participant in the World Oilman's Tennis Tournament (WOTT).

He also got involved with volunteer work. He served on many committees with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was so proud of his work over the years there that in 2006, he was designated a Lifetime Committeeman. He was also very involved with Spindletop International Charities as a member of the Volunteer Cooking Team. He sincerely enjoyed being around the other cooking team members working hard and having fun. He could always be seen carrying a bottle of tabasco sauce around, looking to improve the flavor of the many foods the cooking team prepared.

Upon his retirement from the oil and gas industry, he left Houston to return to Tulsa, Oklahoma. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, socializing, playing tennis, volunteering, and writing letters by hand to family and friends. He also was a devoted and active member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church. He will be remembered as a well-spoken, principled man and dedicated Catholic.

He is survived by his son John "Scott" McNally and daughter Shannon Gail McNally, both of Houston, Texas, and his sister Ellen Federle and husband Gary of Detroit, Michigan, as well as nieces and nephews in Oklahoma, Michigan and California. He is also survived by his longtime partner Julie Brewer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his parents Mac and Mary Louise and his sister, Mary Carolyn Hills, and brother-in-law Tom Hills, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom's memory to Catholic Charities. His family and friends would like to thank the staff at Glenwood Skilled Nursing and Therapy Center and both Traditions and Suncrest Hospice services for their compassionate care of Tom.

A Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 3612 E. 91st Street South, Tulsa, OK 74137.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church, 4001 E. 101st Street, Tulsa, OK 74137. The services are as follows: Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11:00 a.m., and interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 9101 S. Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74137.