Obituary of Thomas R. Hamby

Mr. Thomas R. “Tom” Hamby, age 71 of Harriman, passed away Saturday August 29, 2015 at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville. Tom served his community well during his lifetime. He will best be remembered for his political career, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Through various positions, Tom’s public service spanned half a century. His career started in the early 1970s as a Justice of the Peace. In the late 1970s, he was elected to the Harriman City Council and held the position of Vice-Mayor. He was elected as Harriman City Mayor from 1981-1983. While serving in those positions, he was also employed at the Harriman Paper Mill until it closed. In 1984, Tom opened up a car lot, Tom Hamby Auto Sales, in Harriman. Soon after, he opened two additional car lots in Morgan County. Working on cars, and “wheeling and dealing”, as he would say, were something that he loved. He operated the car lot in Harriman until Mayor Harold Wester appointed him to the position of Harriman City Street Supervisor. He loved this job and took great pride in it. In May 1999, he was appointed as the Roane County Road Superintendent. He held the position until his retirement in August 2012. He was the only Road Superintendent to ever run unopposed in Roane County. When he retired, he spent the next few years doing what he what he loved the most: working in his garage with his license plates and antique cars. During his lifetime, he met and kept in touch with a multitude of people. He was loved by many and will be terribly missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents: Chester and Sara Belle Hamby. One sister: Patsy Lay. And aunts and uncles: Archie Hamby, Pauline and Mack Cooper, Louise and Harlan Johnson, Robert and Ruby Fritts. He is survived by his wife: Patsy Gilmore Hamby. One son: Brent Hamby and his wife Edye. Three daughters: Tami Ladd and her husband Steve, Susie Easter, Robin Newport Fox and her husband Jimmy. One brother and sister-in-law: Bob and Jeannie Hamby. Eight grandchildren: Chase and Sara Hamby, Rylee Easter, Chloe, Summer, Gavin, Ella and Grayce Fox. As well as numerous special friends and loved ones. The family will receive friends Wednesday September 2, 2015 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at South Harriman Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 8:00 PM with Rev. Mason Goodman officiating. Graveside services will be Thursday morning at 11:00 AM in Roane Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Harriman Baptist Church or to Riverside Baptist Church.