Thomas David "Tommy" Skelton Sr.

Thomas David "Tommy" Skelton Sr., aged 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Mt. Pleasant on Sunday, March 24, 2025, after a long illness and while surrounded by his loving family.

Tommy was born on January 20, 1941, the firstborn of Bascom Skelton and Lucy "Bumpie" Person. He was a musician and a member of both the North Texas Steel Guitar Association and the Nashville Steel Guitar Association.

His second love, after the steel guitar, was racing, with him acting as both lead mechanic and pit crew for "Skelton Brothers Racing," and his younger brother, Gene, as the driver. They were well known for the Roadrunner, a beautiful maroon 1951 Ford truck (with a Chevy motor, natch) and their bright yellow Chevy S10.

Tommy leaves behind two daughters, Brigitte Baker (Paul) of Moscow, TN, and Tina Yeager (Cory) of Waterford, MS, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, four siblings: Bascom "Gene" Skelton, Sr. of Mt. Pleasant, Shirley Skelton and Peggy Hurley (Patrick), both of Collierville, TN, Barry Yeager, of Lincoln City, Oregon, and beloved family member/primary caretaker, Sue Ash of Mt Pleasant, MS.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Thomas David "Pete" Skelton Jr, twin newborn granddaughters, Lucy Mae Skelton and Georgia Ellen Skelton, and siblings, Ronald Miles Skelton and Patricia Diane Yeager.

Tommy did not wish to have a service, but in conversations with grandson, Chris, about how he would like to be honored, he suggested that whenever you think of him, you should listen to some traditional steel guitar music ("Houston" by the Gatlin Brothers was his personal favorite) and/or try a pineapple and bacon sandwich with just a tad of Duke's mayo. As he would often say, "It's larapin!"

Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

paid obituary