Thomas Cleveland Collier

Tom “Tonkie” Collier, 94, of Walls, Mississippi, passed away June 29, 2024, at the VA Home in Oxford, MS with his family by his side. He was born February 26, 1930, in Batesville, AR. In his extended families, Tonkie was the last of his generation to pass.

The family will receive guests and friends on Friday, July 5th from noon until funeral services begin at two o'clock all at Minor Memorial United Methodist Church, 6120 Goodman Road, Walls, Mississippi. Burial will be later in the week at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. In honor of his service, please wear anything in red, white and/or blue!

Tonkie leaves behind his children Tom (Julie) Collier, Mitch (Darlene) Collier, and Patty (Alec) Stephens; 10 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and countless friends.

Tonkie joined the Navy at 17 (he tells the story of joining at 16 with his parents’ permission) and retired after 21 years. In 1950. While home in Memphis during one of his shore leaves, he met the love of his life, Joy. They met one Sunday and married the next Sunday. They had a wonderful life and many adventures together for 61 years until her death in 2011.

Tonkie was stationed in Seattle, Patuxent River, Hawaii, San Francisco, LongBeach, San Diego, Virginia Beach, and several other bases while he was in the Navy. He was assigned to Carriers and Destroyers including the Yorktown and the Fessenden. He was a cook, a baker, a boot camp Company Commander, and a supply depot manager. He served in both Korea and Vietnam. But Memphis was always home for both him and for Joy.

After his retirement from the Navy, he worked for Levy’s and then Southern Leather, until his second retirement. He made the most of his retirement. He fished, he bowled, he made ceramic Christmas Trees, he baked cookies and spent sweet time just hanging out with Joy.

Tonkie was an avid baseball player in the Memphis area as a teenager, some even said he had pro potential. While in the Navy he played on, and was often captain of, a host of base and ship softball and bowling teams. His children remember watching him every weekend pitch several no-hitters and hitting several homeruns. According to Tonkie, Admirals wanted him on their ships so he could captain their sports teams. His letters home would tell Joy that he had pitched his most recent no hitter just for her.

When not at the ballpark, he could be found at the bowling alley. He bowled regularly up until just a few years ago, before COVID he was bowling 3 days a week. Tonkie was a gifted, natural athlete; he won several medals in the Senior Olympics in the Memphis area for his age group and some for younger age brackets.

Tonkie learned to bake in the Navy. He was famously known as the “Cookie Man,”but he also loved to bake banana nut bread. He had a passion to make people smile by gifting them his cookies and bread. He would take them to any occasion and even mail them to grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends.

Tonkie and Joy collected literally thousands of Santa Clauses. They also loved working with ceramics together and were constantly visiting Craft Fairs. Tonkie continued to work with ceramics, especially Christmas Trees, and attend Craft Fairs until he moved to Wesley Meadows.

Tonkie could always be seen wearing one of his religious t-shirts. He lived his Christian life on his chest for the world to see. Tonkie was a devoted member of Minor Memorial United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Minor Memorial United Methodist Church building fund or the Mississippi State Veterans Home, 120 Veterans Drive,Oxford, MS 38655. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.brantleyfuneral.com