Thomas Taylor Lightfoot

Tom Lightfoot, 79 years old, of Fulton, Missouri passed away March 15, 2025. He was born in Newport News, Virginia on December 23, 1945. This is where there is typically a list of where a person lived, went to school, worked, and family members. Tom was not typical. He was extremely intelligent, curious, enjoyed playing card games, loved to learn, enjoyed teaching and helping others, kind and respectful, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

When Tom decided to learn something, he took it seriously. He was a natural at numbers, math, and analyzing. When he became interested in the commodities market, he found someone who had been involved with commodities for years and learned from that person and read the recommended books. This moved him to an interest in all aspects of finances, and a years long study of stock markets. He invested for himself and his wife, and through business, helped others to plan for their financial futures.

While serving in the navy, and while attending college Tom found an interest in playing cards – poker and bridge. He approached card playing like everything else and studied, read books, and analyzed. A wonderful benefit of both was developing life long friendships. And enjoyed teaching others about card games.

In 1976 Tom met his future wife, Linda. One time when Tom picked up Linda to go to dinner, he had a quick errand to run first. Linda sat in the car to wait. Tom walked around to the passenger open window, leaned down and said “while I’m inside be thinking about when you want to get married.” After the shock of an unexpected and unusual proposal, Tom and Linda got married on July, 22, 1978, and lived in mid Missouri. Forty six wonderful years of two people each being married to someone they loved, admired, and respected. They enjoyed time together both at home and during their road trip vacations. Both had jobs that sometimes required long hours and occasional business trips. This made the road trip vacations even more special. They both treasured the long hours in the car together as they traveled from one destination to another. Tom usually drove because he enjoyed driving, and he drove fast. He was sometimes asked if he had ever gotten a speeding ticket. His wife always explained that no one could catch him.

During his early years, Tom enjoyed being around dogs. During marriage, Tom and his wife had a parroket and a parade of cats in their home. Tom was impressed with the intelligence, and range of behavior and emotions in their beloved pets.

If didn’t matter what he was doing – working, running errands, visiting with family or friends, if Tom had the opportunity to teach someone something or make someone smile, he went for it.

Tom’s sense of humor was a part of him always. He loved to tell jokes. Often long, weird jokes, but he told the jokes because he loved causing laughter and smiles. Even in later years when multiple health issues meant a lot of time spent in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and with a variety of health professionals, Tom told his jokes. He maintained a wonderful attitude about his physical issues and enjoyed the people around him.

Tom was in the hospital during his last few days. He was well cared for by wonderful doctors and nurses. He had a variety of family and friends visit him. And his wife played recordings of some of Tom’s favorite music, and had some family and friends on speaker on the phone as they reminded Tom about some of the adventures with him over the years, and the many things they admired and loved about him. This was Tom’s memorial – while he was alive and could enjoy it.

As we all move forward, hopefully as we hear a funny joke we’ll think about Tom and smile. As we observe someone taking the time to teach something to someone else, we’ll think of Tom. As we see someone being kind and respectful to someone else, we’ll think of Tom. No doubt, for many people, Tom will be in their hearts and minds.