Tom liked among other things, fishing and drinking coffee. The above picture was taken at the State boat launch in early September 2022, Tom and his fishing buddy Chris Stoltz were just coming off the lake after a morning of stalking finned monsters up in the marsh, his favorite fishing haunt. I was conducting Courtesy Boat Inspections on Labor Day weekend, the last weekend of the CBI season. I’m pretty sure from the smile on his face that he was enjoying himself! Tom also liked coffee and he’d call me up on the spur of the moment and invite me over to his camp on the lake for a cup of his strong Louisiana coffee, or he’d show up at my house, unannounced, settle into a comfy chair, and enjoy a cup of my equally strong coffee. The picture at left is him doing just that, back in 2016. At times like these we’d have good and lengthy conversations on just about any subject but eventually we’d always end up talking about Clary Lake. Throughout those long hard years of the water level crisis and our seemingly endless battle for the survival of Clary Lake, at times the outlook was bleak. Tom was always there, always supportive, always upbeat and optimistic, and always full of ideas and inspiration. He helped me through a very difficult period of my life in more ways than I can mention. Over the years he has been a valuable steward of Clary Lake and a generous patron of the Clary Lake Association at a time when we needed all the help we could get. He will be remembered. He will be missed.

I had my last cup of coffee with Tom this past fall out on his deck just a week before he and his wife Delph packed up and left for Houston. I thanked him again for all his help over the years protecting and preserving Clary Lake. His response was a characteristically dismissive wave of his hand. His health had been failing, and I hoped, but doubted, that I would see him again. News of his passing was sad, but not unexpected. He was 93.

Here is Tom’s obituary, written by his son Baxter. The obituary should appear in the Houston Chronical this coming Tuesday and soon, in the Brunswick Times Record and the Lincoln County News.

Thomas Warren Gillette, 1931-2024

Tom was born in Bath, Maine, on October 10, 1931 and died in Houston, Texas on December 3, 2024.  An avid golfer and fisherman, he spent his recent years with friends and family in Houston, Texas and Clary Lake, Jefferson, Maine. He was a volunteer in AARP’s Tax Help Program for twenty years and a docent on the Battleship Texas for thirty plus years.

Tom graduated from Webb Institute in 1952 with degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, followed by three years’ service as an officer in the US Navy.  Tom joined Exxon in 1956 as an engineer at the Baton Rouge, LA refinery, beginning a 37-year career with the company.  In 1961 he earned an MBA from LSU and in 1965 he was promoted to Exxon’s Corporate Planning Department in Houston.  At this time he met his wife, Delph.  They were married in 1966, and except for 2 years in Esso Australia, they have lived in Houston ever since.

Tom retired from Exxon in 1992 and became an economic and litigation consultant for Exxon and other clients for many years.  The Wilson Gillette report on shipping is published to this day.  

Tom was a survivor of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl harbor and was a student of Naval History, speaking regularly at schools and other venues.  He was a member of the Naval Order of the United States, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, the Clary Lake Association, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and a Past President of the Briar Club in Houston.

Tom is predeceased by his mother Lydia Baxter, father Alden Smith, stepfather Admiral Claude Gillette, USN, sister Lydia Grant and son Christopher.  He is survived by his wife Delph Anderson Gillette, and their son Baxter and daughter-in-law Janina, as well as by his daughter Cheryl and his daughter-in-law Leslie.  He is also survived by his half-brothers Asa and Alden Smith, and has been blessed with grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews living throughout the United States.

Tom’s graveside service will be held at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston on Sunday, December 22 at 2:00 p.m.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests, with gratitude, that memorial contributions in Tom’s name be made to the charity of your choice or to the Clary Lake Association at clarylake.org or Clary Lake Association, PO Box 127, Whitefield, ME 04353.

This obituary will also be posted on our Members No Longer With Us page.