Kevin Ross Tomlin was born to Dr. William Matthew (Matt) Tomlin, Jr. and Carolyn Ross Tomlin in Bowling Green, KY on August 6, 1964. The family moved to Selmer, TN when he was four years old and lived there until he was 18. As a little boy, he rode his bicycle to visit the elderly people in the community. They loved him so! In Selmer, he loved the sport of baseball and played as catcher. Graduating from McNairy Central High School, he left Selmer and worked in the oil fields near New Orleans, LA. He attended Jackson State Community College and Union University.
Kevin went to his heavenly home October 10, 2023.
Throughout his career as a painting contractor, he worked all over West Tennessee, painting houses, apartment buildings, and service stations. Sports included fishing, especially the Ozark rivers, with his father and Dick Wakefield, a long-time family friend. Catching the small perch was as much fun as luring a striped bass.
He was preceded in death by his father, his maternal grandparents, Earl and Linnie McKnight Ross and paternal grandparents, William Matthew Tomlin, Sr., and Ethel Hundley Tomlin.
Kevin wed Peggy Hazelwood and they were married for almost 34 years. A son, Matthew (Matt) Ross Tomlin, (Megan), was born to this union, two daughters include Nicole Joyce and Brittney (Sam) Neely; four grandchildren include: Roman Joyce, Vivianne Neely, Nolen Tomlin, and Norah Kate Tomlin. He is also survived by his mother, Carolyn Tomlin of Jackson, TN and a sister, Cindy Ray (Bill), of Brownsville survives.
Kevin enjoyed numerous hobbies. Turning trash into treasure, he was a skilled craftsman. Restoring antiques, he had limitless patience in giving an old piece of furniture new life. Woodworking gave him the pleasure of working with beautiful wood.
He was a Christian and attended Love & Truth Church in Jackson. Kevin loved his family. He was a son, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and beloved friend to those he met. And he loved animals—especially dogs. He believed that dogs go to heaven and that his adored Rossie would be waiting for him there.
Pallbearers are his son, Matt Tomlin, Gary Hazelwood, David Hazelwood, Carl Hazelwood, Brad Hindman, Larry Hindman, Sam Neely, and James Taylor. Honorary: Roman Joyce and Nolen Tomlin.
Services: A celebration for Kevin will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 1:00 pm in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors, with Frank Romero and his mother, Carolyn Tomlin giving the eulogies. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.
The family will be receiving friends beginning at 11:00 am. on Friday and continuing until the service time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Down’s Syndrome Association of West Tennessee, c/o Amy Allen, 1535 Wahl St., Milan, TN 38358. Check payable to DSAWT.
Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Pkwy. Jackson, TN 38305
