Tommy was born on December 19, 1937, in Paxton, Texas. He graduated from Tenaha, Texas, playing on both the basketball and football teams. He was president of his Senior class and an active member of the Tenaha chapter of Future Farmers of America. He went to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he received a B.S. degree with a major in Agriculture Education. Tommy began his career with Shell Chemical Company in Research and Development. During his time at Shell, he lived in California, Texas and Florida before moving to Kingwood, Texas. He received the Golden Plowshare Award. After DuPont Chemical purchased the Agricultural Chemical Division of Shell, Tommy remained as the Southwest District Sales Manager for DuPont. He was elected president of the Texas Agrichemical Company Association (TACA) and named Member of the Year in 1997. He enjoyed his work in the agriculture community and made many friends.
Tommy was a member and faithful attendee of Kingwood First Baptist Church for twenty-five years. He served on the Ticket Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He was excited and proud to have the opportunity to appear as an extra in the 1990 movie “Tin Cup,” filmed in Houston. He maintained a close relationship with the other members of Retired Old Men Eating Out (ROMEOs), meeting with them every Thursday for lunch and fellowship. An active member of Gideons International, he also served as Vice President, Secretary and Membership Chairman of Church Ministries Faith Fund. Tommy’s faith and his church were central to his life.
Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Erma Barton, his brother, Leroy Barton, two of his nephews, Donald and Douglas Barton, his sister-in-law, Gladys Barton, and his niece, Janet Barton. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Barton, his three daughters, Rhonda Heatly, Tracey Callaghan, and Tammy Brooks, his sons-in-law, Gene Heatly and Paul Callaghan, III, and seven grandchildren, Kyra Heatly, Paul Callaghan, IV, Cody Brooks, Tommy Callaghan, Dillon Brooks, Ethan Heatly and Ashley Callaghan, as well as his sister and her husband, Judy and James Rodriguez, and their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by Jeanne’s children, Barbara and Andy Drumheller and Elizabeth Ballard and Berkley Lee Collins, III, and their four children, Jude Drumheller, Jackson Drumheller, Berkley Collins, IV, and Julia Drumheller. In addition, Tommy is survived by many loving friends and relatives.
A visitation for Tommy will be held Friday, May 10, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX 77339. A funeral service will occur Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Kingwood First Baptist Church, 3500 Woodland Hills Dr, Houston, TX 77339. A committal service will occur Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 4pm at Old Home Cemetery, Tenaha, TX
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