Thomas Francis Fay

Mr. Fay was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Nancy (Woods) Fay.

He leaves his three children, Susan (Steve) Hotopp of Chicago, Illinois, Timothy (Cappie) Fay of Half Moon Bay, California, and Anthony Fay of Plano, Texas, as well as his beloved grandchildren: Julia, Sara, Conor, Carter, and Katie. He is survived by his brothers Joseph Fay of Connecticut, James Fay of Florida, and Ronald Fay of Colorado.

Mr. Fay was born on March 27, 1931 in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the son of Patrick Joseph and Mary Agnes (McDonagh) Fay.

An avid athlete, he played both baseball and football for Weymouth High School. Upon graduation in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country honorably as an airman first class.

After leaving the service, he married Nancy Woods of O’Fallon, Illinois at St. Clare Catholic Church in O’Fallon in 1955.

He then attended McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois before accepting employment as an industrial engineer with Fenwick Fashions, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri. This was the start of a long career in industry, the culmination of which was a position as director of manufacturing with Jerell, Inc. of Dallas, Texas.

Upon his retirement in 1990, Mr. Fay and Nancy traveled widely, making trips to England, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. They also enjoyed visiting their children and grandchildren in Illinois and California.

Mr. Fay shared a lifelong love of sports with his family. He, Nancy, and his children attended many professional sporting events together, including St. Louis Cardinals baseball, St. Louis Blues hockey, Texas Rangers baseball, and Dallas Mavericks basketball games. Mr. Fay’s greatest sporting passion was reserved for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

In 1989, he and Nancy were honored by their children with a trip to the South Bend campus to watch the team defeat Michigan State. He remained a loyal fan to the end of his life, just as he was a devoted and loyal husband, father, and grandfather.

Services will be private at Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano.

Donations in Mr. Fay’s memory may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.

Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano, Texas has charge of arrangements.