It is with heavy hearts that our family announce the passing of Tommie Ray Golden, a beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, and a band mate to many. Tommie passed away Thursday, February 24, 2022 in Greenwood, Arkansas at age 67. He called Greenwood his home for decades after moving from Imperial Valley, California.
Tommie was born to Frederick Albert and Jorene (French) Golden on February 10, 1955, his father’s twenty fifth birthday, in Calexico, California.
His family lived in a small idyllic ten family country community at the University of California Davis Field Station located at Meloland, between El Centro and Holtville, CA. He spent his early to adult years here. Families here had a close tight-knit bonded relationship of brotherhood that still exists today. It was there that the boys started their first early working experiences. The boys, Tommie and his brother Ronnie, Bill Lehman, Ricci McCoy formed their first garage band at 9 to 15 years of age and named it Meloland Express, renamed to American Dream then to Fusion. They went on to play at high schools and parties throughout the Imperial Valley into their early twenties. Tommie continued to play in other local bands.
Tommie attended schools in the Imperial Valley at Meadows Union, at Holtville Junior High, and Holtville High School graduating in the class of 1973 then attended Imperial Valley College. He worked in El Centro for The Record Shop, Leed Music, then Clark Baker Music, where he taught guitar lessons.
Tommie moved with his parents to Greenwood, Arkansas in 1977 after his father’s retirement due to his father having a heart attack to be closer to extended family. He worked at Service Merchandise before finding his dream job at Gretch Guitars.
He played in lots of bands and had written thousands of songs. His talent and knowledge and his love of music were vast. He loved playing his guitars.
Tommie is survived by a brother, Ronnie Golden and wife, Jenne; aunts, Laverne Golden and Bessie and Fanoy Luther; so many loving, caring and compassionate cousins; his companion, Shelley Threadgill and many dear friends and band members. Tommie was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Maggie and Lafayette Golden and Mercedes and Lester French; aunts and uncles, Opal and Walter Johnston, Rosie and Glenn French, Jackie (French) and Raymond Henson, Thelma (Golden) and Bill Killman, Bessie (Golden) and Emery Dedmon, Bertie (Golden) and David Morelock, Mary (Golden) and Gerald Snyder, Edith (Golden) and Russell Wilson, David Raymond Golden, and many cousins.
