Thomas Duane Deen went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 28, 2026, at the age of 65. Thomas was born on March 25, 1961, in Alexandria, Louisiana, to Robert and Sharon Deen. After spending his early childhood in Louisiana, Thomas was raised primarily in Arkansas City, Arkansas. He was a true Arkansan but never lost his Louisiana roots, instilling in his sons a love and respect for Louisiana culture.
Thomas graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1978 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and made many lasting memories with his brothers, notably renting a sailboat with fraternity brothers Jerry Carter and Isaac Bollinger during spring break to (successfully) sail to the Florida Keys.
Following his undergraduate studies, Thomas pursued his law degree at the University of Arkansas School of Law. He briefly attended Washburn University School of Law in Kansas before returning to Arkansas to graduate from the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law in 1986—a school from which his sons, Collin and Robert, would later earn their law degrees.
Following his graduation from Bowen School of Law, Thomas practiced law at the Gibson Law Firm (later, Gibson and Deen) with Charles Sidney Gibson, his mentor and lifelong friend, and Charles “Chuck” Gibson until 1992. Thomas opened a solo practice in 1992 in Dermott, Arkansas, and while practicing law, served as the Dermott Municipal Judge from 1993 to 2000. In 2000, Thomas successfully ran for Prosecuting Attorney for the 10th judicial district, an office he held for 22 years, retiring in 2022. Thomas had a brilliant legal mind and was a skilled writer, fierce opponent in the courtroom, and staunch defender of justice.
Outside of work, Thomas was a lover of trees, art, architecture, music, literature, animals (particularly cats), history, and cooking. No matter where he moved, the neighborhood cats quickly discovered that Thomas’s house was the go-to destination for a reliable meal and friendly touch. Thomas planted trees of all varieties at every opportunity, even to the end of his life, knowing he would never sit in their shade. An Anglophile, his favorite streaming network (by far) was Britbox, and he was endlessly frustrated that, in 2025, the British Broadcasting Corporation blocked much of their content to international viewers (despite his attempts to circumvent this with a VPN). Thomas was a lover of comedy, had a sharp sense of humor, and was quick to laugh.
A lifelong Episcopalian, Thomas found strength, comfort, and solace in his faith until the end of his life. He adored the Episcopal Church and its traditions, and he counted Trinity Episcopal Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, among his favorite places.
Above all else, Thomas loved his sons. He was a steadfast figure in their lives, giving advice, sharing stories, and speaking with them daily, ending each phone call with “I love you, son.”
Thomas was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepfather, and grandparents. Thomas is survived by his three sons, Robert (Nicole) Deen, Collin (Kaitlyn) Deen, William Deen; sister, Denise (Gary) Mayeux; niece, Kristen (Jo) Boudreaux; and nephew, John Mayeux.
Thomas will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
Thomas’ visitation will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, November 2, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Monticello, Arkansas, with funeral services to follow at 2:00 P.M. Following the funeral, a graveside service will be held at McGehee Cemetery.