Thomas K. Peyton

Tommy was born on March 14, 1944 in Nashville, the son of Hessie Kimmel and Pauline Potts Peyton. His parents precede him in death.

On July 21, 1973, Tommy married Pamela Gill Peyton, and they spent 34 years together prior to Pamela passing away on February 21, 2008. Tommy then later married his current wife, Linda Gunnels Peyton on December 24, 2011.

Tommy was a graduate of Glencliff High School in Nashville, and a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. He served in Vietnam for one year as a Security Police Dog Handler, and later in Little Rock, Arkansas at the Little Rock Air Force Base. After his time in the Air Force, he enlisted into the Air National Guard where he served as a Firefighter until he was no longer able to do so.

A hard and dedicated worker, Tommy worked in the Bindery and Press departments at what was Baird Ward, and is now known as Quebecor Printing Company. After his retirement, Tommy went on to work as a bus driver for MTA.

Tommy’s time in the Air Force drove him to gain a love for aviation and airplanes. He knew the names and features of every plane in the Air Force, and he loved attending air shows. He loved animals, and he had a great love for German Shepherds. Tommy especially had a great love and strong bond with his long time companion Maverick. He was a lifelong University of Tennessee fan, and he wore the colors proudly. You could always easily find Tommy in a crowd because of his orange cap he wore in the summer, or by his orange coat he wore in the winter.

A deeply religious man, and a faithful member of Glencliff United Methodist Church, and later Cane Ridge Free Will Baptist Church, Tommy loved to listen to Gospel music and spend time with his Church family.

Tommy had a way of immensely enjoying the simple tastes he had in life. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, son-in-law, brother-in-law, and uncle. Each of these relationships bear mentioning because anyone who ever had the chance to meet Tommy felt a bond with him as if they were his immediate family, and he will be greatly missed by many.

Surviving is his wife, Linda Gunnels Peyton; son, Mark (wife, Olga Novosad) Peyton; a granddaughter, Natalie Peyton; step-sons, Barry Gunnels and Gary Gunnels; brother, Wayne (Mary) Peyton; niece, Emily Peyton; and one nephew, Evan Peyton.