Thomas “Tommy” Norman Qualls, age 77, died November 15, 2020. Tommy was born August 4, 1943 in Groves, Texas to James Marlin Qualls and Vercie Irene Short Qualls. He was an only child, who loved to ride on the front of his father’s Indian motorcycle. At Vidor High School, he met Nancy June Lackey who became his high school sweetheart. They were married June 30 1962 in Vidor, Texas. Soon after marrying, he attended Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas. He left school in 1963 to start a family. While in Texas, they welcomed two sons, Kenneth and Eugene. For a short time, he worked in the shipyards of Houston but in 1968, they moved to Arkansas to work at his father’s sheet metal business. Soon after, they welcomed their third son Russell to the family. While Tommy was busy raising a family, working at the sheet metal shop he still found time to preach almost every Sunday. His love of preaching began at the age of 16.

Due to an accident, where Tommy suffered major burns, he felt God called him to begin preaching full-time. The family packed up and moved to Capitan,  New Mexico where Tommy’s 41-year career as a full time pulpit minister for the Churches of Christ started. While in Capitan, their family continued to grow, with the addition of their fourth son, Ronnie.

Tommy and June were married for 56 years, prior to June’s death on October 23, 2018. They showed Christ’s love by raising their own boys to love and fear God, as well as opening their home to other young men. Tommy loved God and loved sharing his faith with others. He served as a pulpit minister at seven different congregations in Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas. In his later life he started a congregation at The Belmont nursing home in Allen, Texas. Even though he dedicated his life to ministry, Tommy also loved to fish, go hunting with his sons and piloting his various airplanes. He enjoyed being with his nine grandkids, going on road trips with June and always had a corny joke to share. He will be missed not only by his family, but by the thousands of lives he touched through his ministry.

He is survived by his sons, Ken and wife Melanie Qualls of Burleson, Texas; Marlin Eugene and wife Lore Qualls of Russellville, Arkansas; Russ and wife Marge Qualls of Lucas, Texas; Ron and wife Clarica Baum of Inman, South Carolina. Grandchildren, Jessica Qualls and Kristina Schmidt, J.T. and Keith Qualls, Dimitri Tsigourlas, Lisa Timmoneri and Nina Qualls, Tyler and Emma Baum.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 2PM at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Ladonia, Texas.  Due to Covid-19, masks will be required at the service. Social distancing is requested, and families are asked to gather in pods.