Murfreesboro, TN - You never know what tomorrow brings. A compassionate member of our community had been helping people, and as his work wrapped up on Friday, he and his wife headed home to relax and regain strength. Suddenly realizing that the truck had not been put away--Thom Christy went outside once again to park it in its proper space. After a while, his wife started wondering why he was still outside...

The night’s silence was slashed with heavy pounding on the door. When Gloria opened the door, a neighbor said in broken English, “Your husband, your husband!”—and pointed to the sidewalk.

After his fall he lay motionless and face-up on the concrete sidewalk next to the Christy home. Her beloved Thom, who has helped so many over the years, could not lift as much as a finger to help himself up—despite remarkable healing made in the recent past from both cancer and a hip replacement surgery. 

Physicians at Vanderbilt explained that Thom suffered a traumatic head injury in that fall. Twenty-years from now,  that memory will remain as fresh as it is today for his wife Gloria, who loved Thom dearly. She bravely explained, “The doctors have done all they can do for his care. Now we’re preparing to say goodbye as he goes home to Jesus.”

Thom’s two sons, one from British Columbia and another from Missouri arrived in time to say goodbye, as did Gloria's sister Linda and her husband from Utah. The sounds of a busy hospital in the background faded to white-noise as they all gathered around Thom's hospital bed with a minister from Murfreesboro’s First Cumberland Presbyterian Church by their side to say a final prayer.

For those who knew him, Thom was always drawn to people by their need. He helped the homeless in many ways, and was a regular at both Greenhouse Ministries as well as Read to Succeed.

Thom had a reputation of never sitting on the sidelines when help was needed. He would jump-in and do what needed to be done. He figured that if others disapproved, forgiveness could always be sought.

Family notes that he was always quick to remind others, “Never put off what can be done today, and always let family and friends know that ‘you love them’ as there may not be a tomorrow.”

There is one in the Christy’ household who is wondering where her lap cocoon of warmth might have gone. Rascal, Thom’s cat, will be lonely and crying in the times ahead, but then—so will friends, family and everyone touched by Thom’s caring demeanor.  

Brother-in-law Bill Shacklett said, “The amount of people that have lifted our family up is awe inspiring. Thank you for everything you have done. Once we navigate through this time, we will put out information for a celebration of life in the new year.”

On the evening of Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Thom Christy, surrounded by family, left Vanderbilt Hospital on his heavenly journey.