Roll Call Tribute

Thomas Horace Price
August 20, 1928 - September 21, 2020

Thomas Horace Price was born August 20, 1928 in Dallas, Texas to Arlan Horace and Lucille Crabb Price. An only child, Tommy, grew up in Dallas where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. One of his proud accomplishments was attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He became a member of the Corps of Cadets and enrolled at Texas A&M College (now University) where he majored in floriculture. Upon graduation in 1949, he served his country in Korea before returning to work as a florist in Houston. While attending St. Paul’s Methodist Church, he received his call to ministry. In his first job as a youth pastor, Tom went to work for First Methodist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he also met his future wife, Joyce Elaine Gray. Soon he would attend Perkins Seminary at SMU and begin his 31-year ministry with the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Tom and Joyce were married on June 24, 1958 in a double wedding ceremony shared with Joyce’s sister, Marjorie, beginning a life of service to God. Joyce and Tom welcomed three children, Sarah Oleksy (Matt), Alan Price (Cindy), and Timothy Price (Lydia). They were blessed with 10 grandchildren: Tommy Oleksy (Amber), Tammy Gallagher (Clint), Justin Cozart, Jordan Cozart (Maria), Peter Price, Mikayla James (Bryan), Daniel Price (Cayenne), Naomi Price, Samuel Price, and Eliana Price; as well as 9 great- grandchildren: Christian Cozart, Mattimeo Cozart, Crockett Oleksy, Cutter Gallagher, Titus James, Maverick Oleksy, Cannon Gallagher, Selah James, and Emmy Oleksy.

Rev. Price served at United Methodist Churches in Nacogdoches, Bay City, Roxton, Talco, Jacksboro/Jermyn, Dallas (Wheatland), Wichita Falls (Floral Heights), Sherman, and Bonham (Wesley). In addition to his pastoral duties, Tom was a member of the Lion’s Club, serving as president while living in Jacksboro. He was always a supporter of the Boy Scout programs wherever he was serving. Along the way, Tom often served as a chaplain for local hospitals, including the Veterans Hospital in Bonham, Texas.

Cooking was a passion for Tom, and he and Joyce gifted friends and family every year with stollen, a traditional German fruit bread. While attending seminary, he would often bake bread for the family on weekends when he was home. Tom always had a garden, and left a trail of mint at every parsonage he lived in. While living in Leonard, Tom and Joyce enjoyed growing flowers, especially iris, around their home, and had a unique and handicap accessible raised bed garden where they grew many different vegetables that we all got to enjoy.

Tom and Joyce always enjoyed playing bridge, especially with her sister Marj and husband Rex. Tom and Joyce took the family on many adventurous vacations, pulling out on Sunday evenings after church and driving all night “to make it to someplace where it was cool.” They made sure that the family saw much of the USA, visiting most of the contiguous states. They shared the love of travel with their nieces, nephews, and grandchildren while they were able.

While working as associate pastor in Sherman, Texas, Tom played many roles, including Clifford, the Big Red Dog for the children’s program. In retirement, Tom and Joyce continued in ministry by serving as Meals on Wheels volunteers in their adopted hometown of Leonard, Texas, where they found great joy in bringing meals and a friendly greeting to the people on their “route.” More than anything else, he taught us the love of God, love of all mankind and serving others.

Rev. Price passed peacefully from this world to glory in heaven on Sept. 21, 2020 in McKinney, TX.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce, his parents, and several brothers-in law and sisters-in-law.

He is survived by his children, grandchildren, their families, his sister-in-law Beverly Gray, his younger brother-in-law, Robert Gray and his wife Karen, of Mercer Island, Washington, and numerous nieces and nephews.