PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Thomas Paul Bly, 55, of Altamont, Ill., died Friday, Sept. 13, 2002, at his home.

He was born Nov. 25, 1946, in Decatur, Ill., son of N. Thomas and Betty Smallwood Bly. He and Betty Taylor were married July 31, 1975.

Bly was a lieutenant with the Altamont Police Department. He was a patrolman with Decatur, Ill., Police Department nine years, and had been a major and assistant chief of police with Perryville Police Department.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Michael Bly of Houston, Texas, Anthony Bly of Riverside, Calif.; five daughters, Lori Morris of Fairdealing, Mo., Peggy Kearns of Perryville, Tami Wacker of Hudson, Ill., Kelly Perez of Houston, Amy Koester of Effingham, Ill.; his father of Fairdealing; two sisters, Beverly Perry of Springfield, Ill., Barbara Coffey of Mount Vernon, Ill.; and 15 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother.

Friends may call at Gieseking Funeral Home in Altamont from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Union Cemetery at Altamont.