Thomas Raymond Franz

December 1, 1957 - October 29, 2013

Thomas Raymond Franz, beloved husband, brother, uncle and friend, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at his home in Melbourne. He was 55 years old.

Tom was a long time resident of Brevard County and has been a respected member of the local construction industry for over 20 years. During that period, he helped many residents achieve their dream of owning a home, including working with Home for Our Troops and Extreme Makeover Home Edition to build homes for two of Brevard's local heroes. Tom's exemplary reputation in the construction industry recently earned him an appointment to the Florida Building Commission.

Tom loved hunting, fishing, spending time in nature and snow skiing, but most of all he loved his family and many close friends. Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Betsy Franz; brothers, Emil (Dorothy) Franz, Rick (Jane) Franz, and Mark (Susan) Franz; sister, Sue (Rick) Ratcliff; four nieces and one nephew; and friends and business associates too numerous to list. He will be in our hearts forever, continuing to inspire us to live as he did: putting love, compassion and kindness first while appreciating the joy and pleasures of life to the fullest.