Thomas Wayne Coleman

On December 18, 2014, Thomas Wayne Coleman passed from this life into his home with the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born in Luxora, Arkansas on June 25, 1940 to J. Roscoe and Johnnie Mae Coleman. A hard working young man, he worked his first job at age six putting gas in school buses at his father’s Filling Station. After graduating from Aberdeen High School, he proudly served seven years in the Air Force and Mississippi Air National Guard during the Vietnam years. He later graduated from Mississippi State University as a chemical engineer and began his adult career with Dow Chemical Company. He then accepted a position with Kerr McGee Chemical Corporation where he worked for 30 years, advancing to Senior Vice President of Chemical Operations Worldwide. He maintained the highest ethical standards in every endeavor. In 1998 he retired from Kerr McGee to a life of golf, fishing, friends and family. Outside of work and family, Tommy spent his leisure time playing and coaching baseball, fishing, hunting, playing golf and tailgating at his beloved MSU Bulldog football games. His exceptional gentle kindness and compassion was abundant and extended unconditionally toward everyone he met. He is survived by his loving, devoted wife, Susan, his brother Fred Roscoe Coleman, and his children and grandchildren who he loved dearly. Surviving him are his children Cathy Coleman Chain (Chris), Christy Coleman Sundbeck (Milton), Thomas W. Coleman, Jr. (Bernadette), Michael Terry Coleman, Gregory Moss Hutson, and Allison Hutson Hoyt (Lynn). Grandchildren are Larkin Christine White, George Barry White, Jr., Elle Coleman, Molly Catherine Chain, Christopher Ladd Chain, Thomas Burton Chain, Robert Woodrow Coleman, Thomas W. Coleman III, Riley Jo Coleman, Gregory Frank Hutson, Morgan Elizabeth Hoyt, Sadie Lynn Hoyt and Jessica Michelle Bell. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 20, at 11 AM at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Willis, with visitation beginning at 10 AM prior to the service. Burial will follow the services at Smith Memorial Park Cemetery in Willis. The service will be officiated by Pastor Jay Gross. Pallbearers are his grandchildren. The family is grateful to Heart to Heart Hospice, for their excellent and compassionate care, and to all our faithful, caring friends who have loved us through this time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heart to Heart or Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703, Tommy’s favorite charity. Condolences may be left on our website at www.shmfh.com.

Thomas Wayne Coleman

June 25, 1940 - December 20, 2014