Thomas Edward McCurry Sr.

Thomas Edward McCurry Sr., age 89, passed away on August 6, 2026, in Colleyville, Texas. He was born on June 4, 1937, in Wichita, Kansas, to Franklin Wright McCurry and Mabel Leota Spence McCurry. Tom was raised in Wichita and graduated from East High School before receiving his B.A. from Friends University. He began his college years at the University of Kansas studying chemistry, but realized it was not his calling and transferred to Friends University to study business. While attending Friends University and working for his father at Derby Oil, he met the love of his life, Faye Ellen Clingerman. Tom and Faye married in 1958 and had four children.

Tom was an entrepreneur in the truest sense. He excelled in sales and marketing and quickly made his mark with several companies, including a printing company in Wichita. From there, he began the career-defining moves that would shape his professional life. At Holland-Rantos, he covered the state of Kansas in sales before expanding his territory to Texas. He moved his wife and young children to Texas as he continued growing sales, opening accounts, and moving the business forward.

While working for Holland-Rantos, Tom was approached by a gentleman from Warner-Lambert who asked whether he knew someone just like himself. Tom answered, “Yes—me!” That turn of fortune led to a new position with Warner-Lambert, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become National Sales Manager, overseeing sales representatives across the country.

Tom’s strong work ethic and proven track record were recognized by Jerome N. Michel, who owned a skin-care company called Balm Barr. After meeting, the two decided to join forces. Tom bought into Balm Barr and helped build the company into a formidable competitor, eventually attracting the attention of the Mennen Company, which purchased Balm Barr. After the sale, Jerome and Tom formed an equal partnership and founded an aloe company they named Fruit of the Earth, Inc. Eventually, Tom and his wife, Faye, bought out Jerome Michel and became the sole owners of Fruit of the Earth.

Tom remained with Fruit of the Earth until his death on August 6, 2026. The family business remains in the hands of his wife, Faye, and their four children. His years at Fruit of the Earth were defined by sales growth, the development of national accounts, the expansion of product lines, the opening of manufacturing facilities, and increased capabilities that allowed the company to become a supplier for many consumer-goods companies and private-label accounts. His mottos were “Yes, we can!” and “The customer is always right!” He believed, above all, that they were there to serve.

Tom loved people, and people loved and remembered Tom for many reasons. He had a larger-than-life personality—colorful, creative, and full of fun—and brought that spirit to his business, his family, his home and garden, his community, and especially his attire. He dressed in his own style and did not care what anyone else thought. He was impeccably himself.

Tom was well known for his love of the holidays and his deep love for his family, employees, and friends. His favorite color was red. He painted any vehicle he bought bright red, loved to wear red, and painted or accented his buildings with red whenever possible. Each fall, the countdown began for his Big Red Tree of Colleyville, which was covered with lights from top to bottom, each branch carefully strung. He hosted a tree-lighting celebration for the community to gather, count down, and watch the tree come to life. It was magic, and he was pure joy. He had a megawatt smile that could light up any room he entered.

Tom was equally enthusiastic about sports. He was especially passionate about football, baseball, and basketball, and he loved coaching his sons in Little League baseball. He took his family to Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and Dallas Mavericks games, creating seasonal traditions they looked forward to sharing with him. His excitement for sports was contagious, and he passed that passion on to his children and grandchildren. He often took friends and employees to games as well, and they shared his enthusiasm. He loved the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, and there was not a family member, friend, employee, or acquaintance who did not know it.

His garden and the grounds of his home were another great passion. Each season, he blanketed the property with red flowers and many other plants, flowers, and trees. With the help of his longtime friend Memo, he created a beautiful display. Tom loved sitting outside for hours with his wife and family, basking in the glorious beauty of it all.

Tom fiercely loved his wife, Faye; his children, Tommy, Kathy, Brad, and Elizabeth; their spouses; and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We are truly heartbroken, but we are encouraged by his faith in the Lord and know without a shadow of a doubt that he is with God and that, ultimately, we will meet again. As Christians, we do not truly say goodbye, because our hope lies in eternity with our Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Wright McCurry and Mabel Leota Spence McCurry; his brother, Franklin Wright McCurry Jr.; his sisters, Ruth McCurry Denninghoff, Mary McCurry Mardock, Martha McCurry Ketchum, and Margaret McCurry Wolf.

He is survived by: his wife of 68 years, Faye Ellen Clingerman McCurry; his sons, Thomas E. McCurry Jr. (Polly) and Bradley A. McCurry Sr. (Vicki); his daughters, Kathleen McCurry-Fulton (Larry) and Elizabeth McCurry Butler (Oliver); his grandchildren, John Thomas McCurry (Meredith), Jordan McCurry (Allyson), Caroline McCurry Gentry (Mitch), Heather McCurry Hogan (Aaron), Bradley A. McCurry Jr. (Chelsea), Marshall McCurry (Meredith), Chaz McCurry, Skylar McCurry, and Vera Butler; his great-grandchildren, Emma Andersen, Madison Andersen, Piper McCurry, Maddox McCurry, Micah McCurry, Ruth McCurry, Nayvie McCurry, Krew McCurry, Murdock McCurry, Bradley Banks McCurry, Creighton McCurry, and Murphy McCurry, Josey Gentry, and Vivian Gentry; his brother, Howard Spence McCurry of Wichita, Kansas; his brother-in-law, Jerry Clingerman of California; many other nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, and employees who dearly loved him

He will be dearly missed by his wonderful, loving caretakers, LaMyra Day, Sammie Carter, Clementine Howey Kelly, and Nikki Harris, and by his loyal friends Memo, Christina, Leslie, and Linda, who cared for him well.

Visitation will be held at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034, US, on August 13, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life will be held at New Beginnings Church, 2000 Forum Pkwy, Bedford, TX 76021, US, on August 14, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.