Tommie Neil Kiser passed away peacefully on May 15, 2022. He was born April 24, 1938, in Charlotte, NC to the late Mae and Neil Kiser. He grew up on Carmel Road and helped to support his family by caddying on a regular basis at Carmel Country Club (which helped him to become a scratch golfer). After graduating from East Mecklenburg High School, he entered the Army for two years and then joined the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department where he served as a police officer for 28 years before retiring with the rank of Assistant Chief. Once retired from the police department, he worked for Hinrichs Financial Group for over a decade.
Tommie was a loving, honest, dependable, compassionate and caring person who loved his church, his family and his community. He went above and beyond for his family (to include attending a baseball game at every stadium with his grandson, Kendall), and would not hesitate to help someone in need. His charitable pursuits included playing in the Shriner’s steel drum band, going on Habitat for Humanity and church mission trips, maintaining the church grounds, and assisting elderly individuals with anything from driving to the store to doing home repairs. One of his greatest passions was participating in the Shriners children’s burn center program where he completed over 100 trips of driving children burn victims to centers located in Greenville, SC and Cincinnati, Ohio. Tommie loved the saying, “Don’t worry about the mule being blind, just load up the wagon” and this best describes his attitude of letting nothing stand in the way of assisting his family, friends and others.
Tommie was predeceased by Jane, his loving and devoted wife of 59 years and by Carl Mullis, his beloved stepfather for over 50 years. He remarried and is survived by his wife, Becky; children, Keith (Susan) Kiser and Kelly (Tommy) Hughes; grandchildren, Kellen (Kelsey) Hughes, Kendall Hughes and Amber Hughes; step grandchildren, Elliot and Patrick Mersch; sisters, Carolyn (Bill) Galloway and Kay (Rob) Simmons; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of his 3 favorite charitable organizations, The Sandbox (a Charlotte non-profit dedicated to helping children with cancer, life-altering or terminal illness), Lee Park Church or Shriners Hospital.
A memorial graveside service will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28206.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, May 22, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Mint Hill Masonic Lodge, 10224 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227.
