Thomas Holt Chesshir, 82, passed away at Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge, Neb., on August 17, 2024.
He was born July 9, 1942, in Howard County, Ark., to Thomas and Beatrice (Wise) Chesshir. Thomas graduated from Nashville High School in Nashville, Ark., in 1960. He went on to attend Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas, and Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Ark., and graduated with a degree in Agriculture from East Texas University in 1967.
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Tom spent time teaching and coaching basketball at both Greiner Jr. High and Thomas Jefferson High School in the Dallas, Texas, area. He eventually went to work for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Nashville, Ark., where he retired in 2015. Thomas also served in the Marine Reserves.
On Dec. 27, 1978, he was united in marriage to Shirley J. Hawkins in Texarkana, Texas. To this union, Tom and Shirley welcomed daughter, Chrissy. The couple lived in Texarkana, Texas, various places in Arkansas and Demopolis, Ala., before eventually moving to Nashville, Ark., where they lived from 1996 to 2010. The Chesshirs called Texarkana, Ark., home from 2010-2020 and made their final move to Cambridge, Neb., in September of 2020.
Tom had a heart for sports and enjoyed playing minor league baseball for the Nashville Cubs in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. He loved wood-working and spent any spare time he had tinkering and making furniture in his shop or garage. Tom was also a faithful member of the McCook church of Christ.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice (Wise) and Thomas Chesshir; and his sisters, Lillian Preston and Joyce Kaye Chesshir.
Tom is survived by his wife, Shirley Chesshir; his two daughters, Chrissy (Alvin) Tucker of Cambridge and Tammy (Kevin) Dirickson of Texarkana, Ark.; grandchildren: Erin (David) Walker, Alyssa, Alexis, and Scotland Tucker; great-grandchildren; Trent and Kynleigh Walker; and brother, Wendell (Mena) Chesshir of North Little Rock, Ark.
Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be held on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the Blue Bayou Church of Christ in Nashville, Ark.
In lieu of flowers; memorials can be made to the Center Point Cemetery in Center Point, Howard County, Ark.; to the McCook Community Hospital Home Health and Hospice or to McCook Church of Christ in McCook, Neb. Online condolences may be left at lockenour.com. Lockneour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge is entrusted with arrangements.
