Thomas Ray Price

Thomas Ray Price, known to friends and loved ones as “Tom” or “TR”, was born to Harry Steele Price and Pauline Thomas Price in Dayton, Ohio on September 24, 1938. Tom grew up mostly in Ohio, but also Michigan and Florida, which became two of his favorite places to spend time. Drawn to Florida, Tom attended Florida Southern College and pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Tom enjoyed Florida Southern, especially hosting pool parties at his house in Lakeland which he shared with his sister, Susan Price. During his college years, Tom embarked on his first entrepreneurial venture - buying and managing an orange grove, and he believed this experience provided key lessons which led to his later business success.

After graduating from college, Tom joined the Air Force Reserves, and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio. While living in Texas, Tom decided to try out the oil business. He settled in Dallas where he met his wife. On June 22, 1963, Tom married Harriet “Jan” Price. Later they moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he became a builder, which started a lifelong passion for him. Tom built single and multi-family homes in Ohio, Florida and Texas. While living in Dayton, Tom and Jan had two children, Christopher and Stephen. He had much to be proud of throughout his life, but Tom was most proud of the family he and Jan built together.

Moving back to Texas, Tom bought a diecast company where he worked with friends and colleagues for over 30 years. During this time, he also developed land and built homes in Dallas and Ennis. And he purchased Peek’s Flooring, which he operated with friends and family for seven years. He spent the rest of his business life focusing on real estate and the oil business.

Tom served on the board of directors of various companies, including Price Brothers Company, Main Bank, and Ennis Inc., and he cherished building relationships and friendships at Northwood Country Club.

In his later years, Tom enjoyed spending summers at the lake house his father built in Petoskey, Michigan, among family and loved ones, who grew to love summers in Michigan with Tom and Jan. He especially loved springtime in Longboat Key; noting he always got a special feeling when he returned to the beach each year.

Above all, Tom loved adventure, dancing, music, golf, going out of his way to help those he cared about, and more than anything, the friends and family, who not only heard his stories, but were fortunate to be part of them. Tom is survived by Jan Martin Price, his wife of 63 years; his two sons, Stephen Martin Price and Christopher Thomas Price, and wife Rebecca; three grandchildren, Brooke Price Plumer and husband Landon Plumer, Brynn Price and Mitchell Price; two great-grandchildren, Blake and Banks Plumer; niece Patricia Nielsen and husband Carl Nielsen; nephew Brian and niece Janie; sister-in-law, Kay Martin; longtime friend and caregiver Martha Lopez; and countless more friends and family, too many to mention here, but who know who they are.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes a donation to charitable organizations of your choice, in honor of Tom’s memory.