Tommy Skelton Has Gone Home

[Brigitte Skelton Baker]

THOMAS DAVID SKELTON, SR

Thomas David “Tommy” Skelton, Sr passed away at his home in Mt. Pleasant on Sunday, March 24, after a long illness and surrounded by his loving family.

Tommy was born on January 20, 1941, the firstborn of Bascom Skelton and Lucy “Bumpie” Person. He was a musician and member of both the North Texas Steel Guitar Association and the Nashville Steel Guitar Association.

His main hobby was drag racing, which he LOVED, acting as both lead mechanic and pit crew for “Skelton Brothers Racing,” with younger brother, Gene, as the driver. They were well known for the Roadrunner, a maroon 1951 Ford (with a Chevy motor, natch), and their little yellow Chevy S-10.

Tommy leaves behind two daughters, Brigitte Sue Baker (Paul) of Moscow, TN, and Tina Nichole Yeager (Cory) of Waterford, MS, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and four siblings, Bascom “Gene” Skelton of Mt. Pleasant, Shirley Skelton and Peggy Hurley (Patrick), both of Collierville, TN, Barry Yeager, of Lincoln City, Oregon, and family member/primary caretaker, Sue Ash of Mt Pleasant, MS.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, Bascom Skelton and Lucy “Bumpie” Person, his son, Thomas David “Pete” Skelton Jr, twin infant granddaughters, Lucy Mae Skelton and Georgia Ellen Skelton, and siblings, Ronald Miles Skelton and Patricia Diane Yeager.

Tommy did not want a service, but in conversations with grandson, Chris, about how he would like to be honored, he suggested that you listen to more traditional pedal steel music and have a pineapple and bacon sandwich (with just a little mayo.) “It’s larapin!,” he said.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Concolences to you and your family Brigitte on the loss of your beloved father. I did not know him but I share his love of drag racing as I participated at lot in my younger days.

I will think of your father when listening to traditional pedal steel and will think about trying the pineapple and bacon sam!

[Brigitte Skelton Baker]

He played in the Memphis area all of his life, and was really good friends with Kenny Forbess and Ned Davis. He was also on this forum, but he was more of a lurker.

I’ve just inherited his two steel guitars and six amplifiers. I guess I better get started learning to play them.

[Will Houston]

Sorry for you loss. Interesting samich, might have to try that someday.

[Brigitte Skelton Baker]

It’s larapin!