Thomas Theodore Mier

Thomas Theodore Mier passed away peacefully on February 27, 2025, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 80. Surrounded by family and cared for by private caregivers, Tom was ready for his next great adventure. His daughter Stephanie and granddaughter Celeste were with him in his final hours, and he was visited by his brother, sisters, dear friends, and clergy in the time leading up to his passing.

Born in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, to Theodore and Lucille Mier, Tom was raised in Park Ridge, a suburb of Chicago. He attended Queen of All Saints Catholic School and Maine Township High School before earning a bachelor's degree in Geophysics from the Missouri School of Mines in Rolla. Tom enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the oil and gas exploration industry, where he was constantly engaged and eager to master new techniques. His colleagues often described his work as detailed and precise, and he was well-regarded for his dedication to teaching and mentoring those around him. Tom began his career with Texaco and went on to work for Gulf, Mobil, BP Amoco, and ECHO Geophysical.

In 1977, Tom married Marsha Stovall from Houston, Texas, and together they had two daughters. As a devoted father and grandfather, Tom never missed a school play, band concert, or the cherished weekly family dinners in later years. He valued spending quality time with his daughters and granddaughter, frequently taking them to parks, museums, and historical sites throughout Texas.

Tom enjoyed blues music and was an avid collector and nature enthusiast. He enjoyed hiking, bicycling, camping, antiquing, and exploring ghost towns across Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and other northern states. He helped found the Photography Collectors of Houston club in the 1970s. His antique camera collection was featured in "The Passionate Collector," published by Simon & Schuster in 1980. Over a span of 50 years, Tom meticulously curated a museum-quality collection of antique photography items, with some pieces dating back to 1839. Most of this remarkable collection was eventually sold at auction by Simpson Galleries or to private collectors in locations as distant as China and Australia.

A devout Catholic and member of St. John Vianney Church in Houston, Tom lived by Christian principles, always putting others before himself. He generously donated his time and resources to various charities, including Star of Hope Mission, Bread of Life, Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen, and Women’s Pregnancy Center.

Tom is survived by his daughters, Stephanie R. Mier and Sara Masters; granddaughters Celeste Mier and Daphne Scott; brother Bob Mier and wife Sandy; sister Mari Mier; aunt Leona Buczkowski; uncle Robert Summerfelt; cousins Kenneth Malo and Marsha Schwartz; nephew Wright; nieces Mead and Cady; great-nephews Day and Tao; great-nieces Olive and Ruby; and several cousins.

A memorial service and reception will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Everyone is welcome to pay their respects and celebrate this unique life who brought so much kindness, compassion, quirkiness, intellect, and quiet strength to all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen: https://mhihouston.org/how-to-help/donate/