Thomas Frederick Priest, Jr. Obituary.
Published by findagrave.com.
Thomas "Tom"
Priest, Jr., 87, of Pensacola, Florida (formerly Signal Mountain, TN)
passed away on Tuesday, November 24th, 2020. Tom Priest was born on
November 18, 1933, in Miami, FL, where he enjoyed athletics, especially
playing football. Tom was recruited by and played for Robert "The General"
Neyland at the University of Tennessee. He was teammates with Johnny Majors
and played in the 1953 Cotton Bowl. Tom served as a graduate assistant
coach on the 1956 Volunteer team that finished their season ranked #2 in
the country. After spending a few years coaching, Tom changed careers to
life insurance where he achieved the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
designation. His successful career required family relocations to
Scottsdale, AZ, Fresno, CA, Dallas, TX and Chattanooga, TN. He was employed
by Travelers Insurance, Provident, and Mid-Continent Life. While working
and raising a family, Tom also served in the Army Reserves for 20 years and
achieved the rank of Major. Tom's favorite hobbies included: playing golf,
watching sports (especially his alma mater), and attending his kids' and
grandkids' activities, which gave him the most joy. Tom's greatest
attributes were his timely sense of humor, friendly spirit, and his
dedication to supporting his family.
Tom was preceded in death by his
parents, Thomas Priest, Sr. and Ethel Priest, and by his wife Kitty Ann
Hardin Priest.
Tom is survived by his wife, Patricia Priest, of
Pensacola, FL, three children, Timothy (Brook) Priest of Chattanooga, TN,
Kimberly (Mike) McKelvey of Milton, FL, and Gary (Robin) Priest of Signal
Mtn., TN, grandchildren, Trevor, Taylor, Thomas, Meg, and Denver, and great
grandchildren Sophia and Zoey.
While living on Signal Mtn., Tom was a
member of Red Bank Church of Christ.
