Thomas Hamby

Thomas Harold Hamby, born September 24, 1938, went home to be with His Lord on October 12, 2004. Harold was born in Alexander City, Alabama to Thomas Heflin and Lovell Ray Hamby and was the oldest of five siblings. He and his family moved to Tyler in 1947 and a few years later to Whitehouse, which he considered home. Thomas Harold, who peacefully went home to grace Heaven after a long, courageous battle with cancer, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and best friend. The General as C. S. Lewis says in The Last Battle, for them, the term is over. The holiday has begun. The dream is ended; this is the morning, all their life in this world had only been the cover and the title page. Now at last they are beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before. Harold excelled in school and loved math, history, and sports. He was part of the basketball team and continued to follow the Whitehouse Basketball team all the way to Austin in the 1970s. He was a member of Grace Assembly of God, Promise Keepers, and an avid traveler and fisherman. He married his high school sweetheart, JoNell West, who predeceased him. He leaves two daughters by that marriage, Nancy Lynn Priest, wife of Mike Priest of the Lindale area, and Vicki Renee Bruce, wife of Steve Bruce of Whitehouse. He also leaves his wife and best friend, Larue Hamby and his three step-daughters, Sherial Shult, wife of Wayne Shult of Premont; Kristi Cooper of West Des Moines, Iowa; and Tonia Bankhead, wife of Glen Bankhead of Whitehouse; along with 7 grandchildren he lovingly referred to as his babies, Matt Patrick, Jessica Bruce, Andy Cooper, Joshua Cooper, Brandi Bankhead, Brittany Bankhead and Samantha (Sammie) Bankhead. Harold's brothers and sister are Joe Hamby and wife, Cheryl; Dale Hamby and wife, Carolyn; and Sherry Allen. Services for Mr. Hamby will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Marty Thomas and Tom Maddux officiating. Burial will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Smith County. Memorial may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or The Chinese Fire Bible Fund, c/o Grace Assembly of God Church, 17269 U.S. Hwy. 69S, Tyler, TX 75703. Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Thomas Hamby

September 24, 1938 - October 12, 2004