Tommy Anderson

******** Tommy's LIVESTREAM/service video can be found on our website on the PHOTOS AND VIDEOS tab and clicking WEBCASTING VIDEO on this tribute page********** James Thomas “Tommy” Anderson III, 81, of Garland, Texas, and formerly of Terrell, Texas, entered eternal life on September 21, 2023. Tommy passed away in Plano, Texas, while recovering at Prestonwood Rehabilitation Center following a month-long illness with pneumonia. Tommy was born to the late James Thomas “J.T.” and Margaret “Peggy” O’Grady Anderson, on November 30, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois. The family purchased a ranch near Terrell when Tommy was a small child and, as Tommy grew older, he could be seen riding his Shetland Pony “Tony” on the ranch property. Tommy and his three younger siblings lost both of their parents at a very young age, and they were raised by their paternal aunt, the late Billie Anderson Bates of Terrell, whom they referred to as “Nuna.” Nuna ensured that Tommy and his siblings grew up with faith, discipline, education, and a sense of community with their fellow citizens of Terrell. Tommy would apply these lessons of faith, community, and good citizenship throughout his life, finding ways to serve the needs of others in both his professional and private endeavors. Tommy excelled at many things while a young man attending Terrell schools, including academics, as Nuna no doubt would have ensured. Tommy was an honor student at Terrell High School. But it was in athletics (most notably football) and in music (especially vocal performance) that Tommy’s gifts and accomplishments were most recognized. A standout offensive lineman for the Terrell Tigers during their 1950s heyday, Tommy won multiple-All State honors – twice a unanimous choice, as well as winning a State Championship in 1957 (and nearly winning another one in 1958, losing on a Semifinal tie-breaker to the eventual State Champion). Tommy was more recently recognized for his contributions to Terrell football when he was inducted into the Terrell Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. But, as accomplished as he was on the gridiron, it was in the performance hall and the church sanctuary that Tommy may be most remembered by those who knew him and were blessed to hear his beautiful tenor voice. Twice during his high school years, he was selected to All State Choir. After graduating from Terrell High School in 1960, Tommy was able to parlay both his football and musical skills into scholarship offers from Baylor University. But it was music that ultimately won out, as Tommy left Baylor’s football program after his freshman year to focus on his love for musical performance, and especially church music. He graduated from Baylor in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance, and then went on to study Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving in music ministry at churches in Georgia and Texas in the 1960s and early 1970s, Tommy’s professional career took a decidedly different turn upon returning to Terrell in 1970, when he began working in music therapy at Terrell State Hospital. He went on to become Director of Vocational Rehabilitation at the Hospital, in which capacity he served until retiring. Following his retirement from Terrell State Hospital, Tommy continued to work and serve his community as director of the Goodbar Senior Center in Mesquite, and working the circulation desk at the Garland Public Library. But Tommy still had his love of church music and vocal performance, and he used this gift for many years as the long-time director of music ministry at First Christian Church in Terrell. Despite excelling at so many things throughout his life, there was at least one thing at which Tommy DID NOT excel, and that was downhill skiing, which he learned much to his own chagrin and much to the hysterical delight of his younger sister, Maureen (“Sissy”), during a ski trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado in 1977. Admonished by another skier for laughing at Tommy tumbling down the slopes, Sissy replied “You don’t understand. I’m his sister, and all our lives, he’s been great at everything he’s ever done. So, it’s funny to see him not be good at something.” Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, J.T. and Peggy Anderson, adopted parents Jack and Billie Bates, brother Paul Anderson, nephew Michael Anderson, niece Shannon Henzell, stepdaughter Sherri Stroud, and wife Linda. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kay Anderson, sister Maureen “Sissy” Anderson, brother Jerry (Claire) Anderson, brother Dr. Bob (Sheri) Anderson, half-brother Mark Anderson, half-sister Cathy (Dr. Byron) Bonebreak, the mother of his sons Betty (Ron) Wilson, son James T. “Jay” (Sarah) Anderson, son Jeff (Jennifer) Anderson, stepdaughter Angie (Bobby) Helms, stepson Brian (Sonya) Worley, stepson Barry (Connie) Gee, granddaughters Emma Richardson, Molly Anderson, Mary Virginia Anderson, Grace Anderson, Ally Helms, Brooke Worley, and Heather Lee, grandsons James T. “Jamie” Anderson V, Aidan Anderson, Ben Anderson, Andrew Helms, Shane Stroud, and Brent Gee, nieces Claire Anderson and Laci Unruh, nephews Patrick Bonds, Jonathan Bonds, and Trace Anderson, and many beloved Anderson and O’Grady cousins. A memorial service celebrating Tommy's life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, October 1, 2023, at First Christian Church in Terrell, with interment immediately following at Oakland Memorial Park.

Tributes

Tommy Anderson

November 30, 1941 - September 21, 2023