of his family. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend, he will be greatly missed
by all. He attended St. Michael’s Catholic School and Christian Brothers High School, where he was an
active alumnus throughout his adult life. He received his Accounting Degree from Memphis State
University and was a Certified Public Accountant.
Thomas enjoyed a long increasingly challenging career in the hospitality/gaming industry spanning over
50 years. Beginning with Holiday Inns, Inc. in Memphis in the 1960’s, his focus shifted to gaming when
Harrah’s Inc. was purchased by Holiday Inns, Inc. He transferred to Reno, NV in 1980 as a Harrah’s Inc.
executive. Returning to Memphis from Atlantic City in 1993, he formed the tribal gaming division of
Promus Corporation (formerly Holiday Corp.) He eventually ascended to President of Harrah’s Sky City in
Auckland, New Zealand, living there for 3 years while overseeing the development and opening of the
casino/sky tower complex. After his career with Harrah’s, Thomas was an executive with Isle of Capri
Casinos and an independent gaming consultant.
He had a lifelong love of sports, following The University of Tennessee Volunteer’s football team while
even living in New Zealand. He coached both his children and grandchildren in various sports. He was an
avid tennis player, golfer and pickle ball player.
Thomas was preceded in death by his father Thomas Jefferson Carr, Sr., mother Emily Draper (Carr)
Lassard, and niece Lesley Suthard. Thomas is survived by his wife, Jean, son Jeff (MaDonna), daughters
Tricia (Roger) and Ashley, son by marriage, Jeffrey (Heather), sisters Barbara (Bernard) Keck and Dianna
(Tom) Dithridge, and mother by marriage Frances Carr. His grandchildren include Connor (whom he
raised with his wife Jean), Thomas, Kristen, Holly, Daniel, Colletta, Joshua, Kylan, Hannahbelle and Lela.
Additional survivors include two nieces and a nephew.
He will be fondly remembered as a brilliant businessman and an infectious storyteller with a wonderful
sense of humor. He loved his family and friends dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
be directed to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Visitation will be Saturday,
February 5, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 8151 Poplar Ave., Germantown, TN. A reception celebrating Thomas’
life will follow immediately after Mass in St. Therese Hall.
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