Tyson, Thomas D. (Tommy)



THOMAS D. (TOMMY) TYSON was born to Nevara (Bridges) and Dewey Tyson on November 5, 1926, in a small settlement outside Donalsonville, Georgia. They lived in a log cabin built by his dad with no electricity, no running water, and only an outdoor toilet.

The oldest son of predeceased Nevara & Dewey Tyson, he is survived by his loving wife Jan Tyson; sister Margaret Walters and husband Larry; brothers Bill and wife Joanne and John Tyson and their families. Tommy is also survived by his son Brett and daughter Karen Eileen Grasty and husband Steve, grandchildren Stacey and Stephen, and great grandchildren Jeremy, Meagan, Britton and Nick.

When he was seven, the family moved to Houston graduating from Sam Houston High School in 1943. Special memories of those early years were deer and quail hunting with his dad and uncles and basketball games with friends in the West End. Following graduation, he began his college education at the University of Houston. However, that was interrupted by his desire to serve his country during World War II. He joined the navy at age 17 and served as a gunner's mate on the SS John H. Hammond, a Liberty ship hauling ammunition in the North Atlantic. After serving for three years, he returned to Houston and completed his education, receiving a bachelor degree from the University of Houston. During those years, he was on the baseball team, and was introduced to the great game of golf that he loved throughout his life. He played for the U of H and, during the following years, he won many amateur championship flight golf tournaments including four City of Houston amateur golf championships.

He enjoyed eleven years of coaching basketball at Hartman Junior High and Jones Senior High Schools. Tommy returned to the U of H and received his M Ed degree and also met and married the love of his life, his wife, Jan, to whom he was married for 40 years. Tommy passed his love of golf to their son, Brett. They enjoyed a close, special father-son bond and enjoyed many rounds of golf together. He also had eighteen great, unforgettable years as assistant principal and principal of Hamilton Junior High in the Heights. No one could have had a better faculty and staff! They all shared many memorable experiences at Hamilton. Retirement from HISD was followed by 14 years with Service Corporation International as Manager of Limousine Service International. A special thanks to Bobby Waltrip for providing him with this opportunity.

"I did it my way" included a life filled with a family who loved him, good friends and golfing buddies in Houston and Liberty, and rounds and rounds of golf.

The family will receive friends from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2006, at Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77008. Funeral services will be held at 3:00p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2006, in the Chapel of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77079. Pallbearers include great friends Joe Dupuis, Al Goff, Ken Hofer, Art McCullough, Howard Stone, J.C. Burnham, Ken Rieves, Bobby Gillen, and Jim Payne.

If you desire, contributions can be made to the Parkinson Foundation of Harris County, 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 308 Houston Texas 77036-2025 713-552-0858 or the Houston Area Parkinson Society, 2700 SW Freeway, Suite 284, Houston Texas 77098 - 713-626-7114.

Published in the Houston Chronicle on 11/15/2006.