Tommie (Tommy) Leavelle Thompson

Tommie (Tommy) Leavelle Thompson went home to be with the Lord at the age of 80 in Conroe, TX on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Born to Margaret Alene Thompson and Derwood Leavelle Thompson on August 29, 1940 in Jackson Mississippi. Although a native of Jackson, he made a life for himself in Texas.

Tommie grew up in Mississippi; Jackson and Magee were his stomping grounds. He attended and graduated from Murrah High School in 1960, where he was involved in the Audio Visual and Speech clubs. Following high school, he joined the Air Force where he served in Security Services and learned computer operations.

While stationed at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio, he met Dorma “Dee” Carlisle and fell in love. They were married in 1964. While Tommie trained with the Air Force, Dee attended business school. Their first daughter Melony was born on the base in Lackland. Tommie finished his 6-year term in the service, then relocated to Houston, Texas where he took a job at Control Data Corporation (CDC) and worked for about 20 years. His second daughter Tracy was born in Pasadena, TX. They only lived in the Houston area for a short time before moving to Conroe.

He purchased his house in Conroe, Texas, knowing he would spend two hours a day driving to work in Houston. He wanted to raise his daughters in the country and have a small piece of land to call his own. He loved his home, built by his father-in-law. Tommie and Dee, along with guidance from his father-in-law, finished the house and made a home for their family. Despite several tornados and downed trees through the years, they made it their own little paradise. Tommie loved working on his property, he purchased a tractor and spent a great deal of time clearing, pushing over, dragging, and burning trees on his property. He also enjoyed the wildlife, feeding the birds, squirrels, stray cats, raccoons and opossums.
Tommie’s interests in hunting, fishing, golf, antique cars, guns and knives kept him active in the Conroe and Houston area and allowed him time to spend with his friends. Being surrounded by women at home all the time, he needed his band of brothers, and there were many throughout the years.

He began at CDC as a computer operator and then moved into a supervisor role. He eventually went into sales for CDC, selling media, disk packs, tape and floppy disks. In 1984 he joined Dallas Digital where he sold peripherals and earned the Salesman of the Year award twice before becoming Regional Sales Manager. After ten years at Dallas Digital, he started his own business, T-Square Technology before retiring in 2000 to spend more time with his wife, daughters, and their families.
He greatly enjoyed his grandchildren. He loved teaching them how to ride motorcycles, go-karts, tractors, and lawn mowers, as well as teaching them how to play pool and cards (for educational purposes of course!). He eventually helped them to drive as well. He found great joy in family time, although he might not have said so, the smile on his face gave it all away.

He spent time reading the newspaper, watching old westerns, and listening to classic country music. He was a strong supporter of sports as well, watching football, baseball, boxing, and golf, endlessly.

Tommie and Dee both loved animals, they had several dogs and cats over the years; plus, a great number of strays they named, all of which certainly met him at the Rainbow Bridge when he arrived in heaven.

Tommie was a rock-solid man. Characterized by his high school friends as being darling and daring and apparently had dandy ducks (it was the late 50’s). He had a great smile and was well liked by all.

He secured his faith in God and was baptized at a young age in Magee, MS and became a member of Siloam Baptist Church. He later moved his membership to Mims Baptist Church when his daughters were baptized there. Though he faced many trials and hardships in his life, he never lost his faith in God or his ability to persistently persevere despite how deep the valley or how long the road was back to “normal”. He ran, with endurance, the race that was set out for him.

He was a quiet, soft-spoken man, true to his word and brutally honest. A loving husband, father and grandfather, kind neighbor, and friend. He was known for helping others in need, sharing what he had and blessing others less fortunate. A man of simple means, he enjoyed staying home and living a quiet life in the country with Dee.

Tommie was survived by his wife of 57 years, Dorma “Dee” Thompson, daughter Melony Matthews, spouse Scott Matthews and their children Blake and Bryce; and daughter Tracy Welch, spouse Mark Welch and their daughter Courtney Welch, spouse Raegan; and son Cory Welch, spouse Ali and daughter Vada; brother Jackie Thompson; sister Cherrie Rookmaker; sister Cathy McCrary, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Tommie was preceded in death by his parents and sister Emily LeFavere.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.

Plans are being made for a military honors service and memorial later this year at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. Please reach out to the family regarding details.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Graveside service will be at 2 PM on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209, at Shelter #4.