Thomas Wayne Carnes

Thomas Wayne Carnes, husband of Nancie Lou Watkins, born 1/11/1940 in Fairfield, Alabama, died 3/7/2023 at 83 years of age in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thomas Wayne grew up in Jonesboro, Alabama and graduated from Bessemer High School. He married Nancie Lou Watkins on September 6, 1963. Immediately upon graduation, he joined the US Marine Corps and later graduated from the University of Alabama in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation from college, he worked for International Paper Company for over 30 years and retired in Mobile, Alabama in 1996. Since his retirement he worked in construction management building the AK Steel plant in Rockport, Indiana and later worked as Project Manager on disaster recovery projects in Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his parents Marion Sidney Carnes and Ila Earline Burk and sister Marion Emma (Baby) Barrett of Okeechobee, Florida. He is survived by his wife Nancie Carnes of Baton Rouge, sister Carolyn Bortz of Stuart, Florida, son Kelly (wife Amy) Carnes of Mobile, Alabama, daughter Memory Carnes (husband Lawrence) Green of Madisonville, Louisiana, and 3 grandchildren, Katie Carnes, Hannah Green (husband Christian) McBain and Julian Green. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, March 19th, 2023 at Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum in Birmingham, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and the Graveside service will begin at 11:00 am. Celebration of life service will be on April 2nd from 12-3 at the Lakes at Highland Clubhouse on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Tom was an avid Alabama football fan, was deeply involved in genealogy of his own family as well as others, spending thousands of hours researching and copying pictures to leave for his family. His priority was taking care of his family which ranged from working long hours at International Paper Company and upon retirement, on a myriad of projects from highly technical to the mundane. A man of few but distinctive words, a heart of gold and a Marine to the end, Tom lived his life with the utmost honor and integrity and was well respected by all who knew him. Flowers may be sent to Johns-Ridout’s Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum, 800 Dennison Ave SW, Birmingham, AL. 35211 c/o Thomas Wayne Carnes. Friends and family at the funeral service are invited to stay for food and beverages after the service at Elmwood Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Carnes family.