Thomas Clyde Whaley Sr. departed this life on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at the age of 79. He was born February 23, 1945, in Searcy Arkansas, the son of Arthur Clyde Whaley and Sarah “Margie” (Hodges) Whaley.
On August 13, 1962, he married the love of his life, Beulah “Fay” (Mullins) Whaley, and they made their home in the Hurricane community. Tom, Fay, and their daughter, Cindy, moved to Michigan where their son, “Tommy” was born.
After 8 years in Michigan, Tom and his family moved back home to Arkansas, where he accepted a job at Jackson County Grain Dryer, which is now known as Riceland Foods. He worked for Riceland Foods as the plant Maintenance Technician for 33 years until he retired in 2007. Tom and Fay truly made the most of his retirement by sharing their love of gardening. Tom grew the best tomatoes around and was always happy to share them with family and friends. Some of their favorite hobbies included traveling to Mountain View and listening to the “sangin’” on the square, racking up “therapy miles” on Tom’s Ford truck, and family camping trips to Gunnar’s Pool. If you knew Tom, you know he loved Fay and his family more than anything else. Some of his greatest joys were being a husband, dad, grandpa, and G-Pop.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Jack and Byron Keith Whaley. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Fay Whaley of the home; one daughter, Cindy (Whaley) Garland and husband, Keith of Newport; one son, Thomas Whaley Jr and wife, Kelly of Newport; one sister, Anita Harris and husband, Terry of Romance; two brothers, Gary Whaley and wife, Denise of Morning Sun, and Jeff Whaley of Searcy; two grandsons, Cody Garland and wife, Angela of Swifton, and Dawson Whaley of Newport; one great-granddaughter, Davanee Garland of Swifton; and many extended family members and a lifetime of friends.
Friends and family may visit Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home on Monday, March 11, 2024, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with the funeral services beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Lamkins Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers are Teddy Evins, Max Webb, Blake Hutchinson, Brothers-in-Law: Albert Mullins, Alvin Mullins, and Wayne Scoggins, and the Riceland Foods Crew.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jimmy Brumley, Earl Crawford, Lonnie Mullins, Wayne Brown, Shawn Bearden, and Mark Perry.
A special thank you to the many wonderful caregivers: Amber Estes, Anna Bowen, Dennis Whaley, Brenda Green, Karla Stoner, Beth Foster, and Elite Hospice (Candance and Amber).
