Tommy Norris Roderick went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 3, 2018. He was born, December 17, 1951 in Brownwood, Texas. Services for Tommy will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Davis Morris Funeral Home, Friday, December 7, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early, Texas. Visitation will be Thursday, December 6 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
He is survived by Sara Rideout, her children, Ruth, Mark and Luke along with grandchildren, Nevaeh, EJ and Stetson. They were a special part of his life and he was very loved and will be missed by each one of them. Also surviving Tommy are numerous Godchildren and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Veach and Slim Roderick.
Tommy was an outstanding athlete at Brownwood High School. He attained numerous athletic awards including All-State football honors. Following graduation, he continued his football career at Texas A&M University as a Fightin’ Texas Aggie and remained a zealous Aggie all his life. After football, he became an excellent slow pitch softball player who played in tournaments throughout the state. It was his athletic endeavors that molded Tommy into the person we knew and loved.
To say Tommy was a team player is an understatement. He never forgot the ability to work together to accomplish a common goal. He exemplified this in his professional life by being the first person to volunteer for an assignment, first person to complete a task the right way and the diligence to come early, stay late and be the last one to leave.
Tommy was a loving friend to countless individuals he encountered along his life journey. He was kind, gentle and compassionate. He was intentional and engaging with his personal relationships, providing whatever measures needed to support or come to the aid in times of joy or sorrow. He would always be there with those lumbering tree trunk arms and rough hands providing the needed hugs and love that made the difference.
Tommy was the kind of person you never needed to “catch-up” with. It did not matter if it had been one hour or one year since his last contact. He would place you at ease after the first couple of sentences and make you believe you had just talked to him five minutes ago. He loved to reminisce and was a great story wordsmith, who at times, would repeat these stories but if you loved him, you grew to love the repetition!
Tommy Norris Roderick aka “The Big Man” was a caring man who will never be forgotten by family and friends. The true nature of a person is what they leave behind. In Tommy’s case, he left behind for us the true understanding of compassion for his fellow man, love with a caring heart and finally unconditional support. Tommy is now with his loving parents, family, and friends who left before him, but will never leave our hearts and memories.
Online memorials can be left at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com
