TOMMY JOE VESTAL,
70, of Little Rock, passed from this life to be with the Lord, September 3, 2021.
He was born September 16, 1950, in Monroe, La., son of Hazel and William Vestal. Beloved father, grandfather, licensed counselor, railroad and music enthusiast. He would casually mention wanting to hop on a boxcar to see where the track went. He loved spend-
ing time driving with his kids. Tommy was known to quote his mother on these drives when he almost always got them lost. “Don’t worry we’ve got plenty of gas,” he’d say with a smile.
Tommy had a story for every occasion. He told about the exotic pets of his youth: a spider monkey (won in a poker game) and an alligator named Frisby (living a contented life somewhere in Bayou Bartholomew). He spoke lovingly of his childhood home Pine Bluff, and a lion roaming the streets. He worked on barges where his friend, Tom, once found him accidently hanging off the side silently struggling for dear life trying to not alert any alligators. He had worked for the Cotton Belt as a brakeman and conductor. Though he was paid severance from the railroad there was never another job he spoke of more fondly. Later in life, he went back to school achieving honors in his master’s degree in counselling. He worked as a counselor for over 20 years and was happiest when helping those most lost.
Tommy was a true believer who fervently prayed for the city in which he lived. He was known for temperance and patience. He genuinely cared for others which made him a great counselor and friend. He cared for his family deeply and strived daily to exhibit the love of Christ towards those around him. To his children, he instilled patience and kindness. He would talk about his faith as though he could reach out and touch it. By example, he pushed others to study and deeply examine what it means to follow Christ.
He was loved and will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him. Tommy leaves behind a sister, Hazel; a brother, William Wesley, two sons, Stephen and John; a daughter, Sarah; two grandchildren, Abby and William; and a lifelong best friend of 65 years, Tom Pitts.
We mourn for our loss, though we know that he celebrates for his gain.
“A Christian life is an unending engagement on the battlefield”, Watchman Nee.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 10, 2021, from 1011 a.m. in the chapel of Roller Chenal Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 11. Please share your memories of Tommy Joe at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.