Thomas Walter Bare

Thomas Walter Bare was born August 12, 1952, in Mecklenburg County to Ernest and Iva Jean Bare. Tom’s early childhood years were spent in Coulwood located on the west side of Charlotte, NC. He graduated from West Mecklenburg High School. Tom formed lasting friendships with the group he called the Westside Boys – Johnny Wilkerson, Rusty Hosaflook, and Reggie Auten.

Tom started his career by driving tractor-trailer trucks for a freight company owned by his father and his uncle, Robert Bare. He later drove tractor-trailers for Food Lion in Rowan County. Then Tom changed his career path. He went to work at Carolina Flooring and Tile where he developed his knowledge of the flooring industry. From there he went to Gulistan Carpet, where he worked as a carpet mill representative. He had a long career as a sales rep for Gulistan winning many sales awards in his 13 years of service. Tom loved the people he worked with at Gulistan and the customers who became good friends.

Tom was a well-known Shag dancer, and it was a big part of his life. It was at a beach club called Randy’s where he first saw people Shag dancing and he became obsessed with learning to Shag dance. (Let it also be noted he also knew dancing would help meet pretty ladies.) From there he was directed to Groucho’s Beach Club to take lessons from renowned teachers, Shad and Brenda Alberty. Tom went on to compete and win contests all over North Carolina and South Carolina.

Then the opportunity arose for him to open his own dance club, Lynn's, in 2011. Tom worked to make Lynn's a premier club and welcoming to all. Lynn's hired shag instructors to teach lessons and keep the dance popular with younger generations.

Tom had a larger-than-life personality, and he was one of the funniest people you would ever meet. He made friends easily was always the life of the party. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include Hal Bare (brother), Scarlett Parrotte (daughter), Ava Grace Parrotte (granddaughter) and Lilian Reese Parrotte (granddaughter).

Also surviving are his cousins, Ann Jones, Pat Stringer, Jimmy Woodruff (Laura), Johnny Stringer (Debbie), Lynne Isenhour, Meredith Bare, Todd Bare, Randy Bare, Sheryl Bare Grogdon, Jeff Bare, Doug Bare, Chad Bare, Mike Jones and Debbie Jones.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Bare and Iva Jean Bare, along with numerous other family members that will greet him at Heaven’s gate. Tom also leaves to grieve his passing a plethora of friends as well as his Lynn’s family. Also left to treasure fond memories is Tom’s special friend and his right hand, Shannon Nejeschleba, who cannot be thanked enough for her support and care for Tom for the last 15 years.

A service to celebrate his life will held at 2:00 pm Saturday, February 28th at McEwen Funeral Service – Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC.

Elvis has left the building.

Linn-Honeycutt Funeral Home in China Grove, NC and McEwen Funeral Service in Pineville, NC is honored to be serving the Bare family.