Thomas (Tommy) Eugene Spears
Thomas (Tommy) Eugene Spears, 74, of Arlington, TX, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of March 1, 2022. Tommy was born on October 2, 1947, in Odessa, TX, to Fred and Oleta Spears. Growing up in Odessa, Tommy enjoyed spending time outdoors with his friends in the neighborhood. He developed a love for hunting and fishing alongside his dad in those early years, and continued that tradition with his own sons. Tommy spent his high school years cruising the streets of Odessa and meeting up with friends at their favorite drive-ins.
They also enjoyed going to drivein movies and he loved to tell the stories about loading as many people as possible into the trunk of his car so they could split the fees amongst them. Tommy graduated from Odessa High School in 1966 and was a member of their track team. After high school he attended Odessa College. He met his wife Debbie in the summer of 1967. Their favorite dates would consist of eating fried pickles at Nickys. Tommy and Debbie married in December 1968 and relocated to Arlington, Texas in the summer of 1969 so that Tommy could attend UTA. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Management degree in 1971. Tommy and Debbie made Arlington their home and there raised 3 sons. Tommy left an indelible mark on the Arlington community through numerous volunteering and coaching activities. Tommy was the proud “Pop-Pop” to 9 grandchildren and was also looking forward to the birth of his first great granddaughter in July of this year.
ommy and Debbie enjoyed a happy and prosperous 53 years of marriage. Tommy’s friends remember him as being adventurous, fun-loving, and always incredibly generous. Quoted from many of his dearest friends, “He was not selfish, nor unwilling, to share whatever he had.” Over the course of a 50-year career in the lumber industry, Tommy created lifelong friendships with his customers and his co-workers. Tommy loved his profession and took great pride in his work. He was known in the office as a fun-loving, gregarious hard-worker that the younger generation ran to when they had questions.
The last 25 years of his career were spent at Boise Cascade and his colleagues say that the office will never be the same without him. Tommy is survived by his wife, Debbie (Syrios) Spears, sons, Thomas Spears and wife Angela, Matthew Spears and wife Amy, Adam Spears and wife Ashley, grandchildren Caitlyn Vazquez and husband Alex, Hailey, Madeline, Hannah, Connor, Madi Claire, Lincoln, Lane, and Levi Spears; Brother-in-laws, Johnny Syrios, Mike Syrios and wife Donna as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. We will cherish every memory we were able to make with Tommy here on earth and will look forward to the day that they we see him again in heaven. Full funeral service video can be found at www. moore-funeralhome.com.