Tommy Lee Townsend, 65, of Iron City, TN, passed away May 21, 2016. Tommy was retired from the Phelps-Dodge Mining Company in Playas, NM where he was the Flash Furnace Foreman for over 30 years before taking over as the Site Manager for the property for the last few years of his career at the copper smelter. He and his wife then retired to Tennessee in 2011 where he fell in love with the rivers, the grass, and the land. He made his hobby a reality of living out his retirement on his land raising his cattle. Tommy was a member of the St. Joseph First Baptist Church.
Tommy is survived by:
Wife: Tricia Townsend
Sons: Tommy Lee Townsend, Jr. & David Sinor
Daughters: Becky Townsend, Brook Rhodes (Adam), & Katherine Plummer
Brother: James Townsend (Suse)
Sister: Eyvonne Gunn (Don)
Grandchildren: Amie & Sierra Manos
Tommy, Dylan, & Danna Townsend
Jacqueline Townsend Williams
Cheyenne, Dalton, and Talon Rhodes
Allison Plummer & Aiden McKillip
Tommy was preceded in death by:
Parents: John Milton Townsend and Myrtice King Townsend
Daughter: Brenda Manos
First wife: Donna Cox Townsend
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: New Mexico Baptist Childrenโs Home, 100 S. Ave C, Portales, NM 88130 (575-226-3759) www. nmbch.com
A memorial service will be held for Tommy in June 4, 2016 in Ruidoso, NM.
Greenhill Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
14 comments
I want to send my deepest condolences to Tommy’s family. I knew he and Donna for a long time and was best friends with Donna. Loved being around them and the girls. I babysat several times for them and enjoyed it!! RIP Tommy. Many thoughts and prayers to the family.
I am thankful for the fishing and cows and just getting to hug him before I left. We all will miss you so very much and we all know your our guardian angle angel to watch over all of us. Love you always your princess.
Cheyenne
My heart is very heavy right now. I am sad that Tommy is not here to give us that funny little laugh that he had and we all smiled and laughter twith him. I am happy to know that he is with our Heavenly Father and other loved ones. When my family moved from AZ to Playas NM, transferred to work at the smelter, Tommy and Donna were the very first to welcome us there and they were one of our greatest friends that we had until we moved. My deepest sympathy and love for the family. My God hold you all in his Arms…always!
Oh Tommy how you will be missed by many. Tommy and his family helped me through a tuff time in my life that I’m not sure I would have made it through if it wasn’t for him, and I will forever be greatful of that and to be a part of his life. To Brook, Becky and family again so so sorry. Great Great Man.
My deepest condolences for the whole Townsend family. I am happy to have known all of you. God Bless you
Tommy was an amazing man who I always looked up to. He will be missed but anyone who met him knows where he is now. All my love and prayers to the family in this time.
With deepest sympathy in the loss of Tommy. I worked with Tommy in Playas and he will be greatly missed. May God be with his family at this time and remember all those special times
one of my favorite people……worked with Tommy while he wa site manager….Always made our jobs more like fun than work! And what a tease! I still have a plant Tommy gave me when I quit and I think of him every time I’m watering it. Please know he was one of the great ones and my condolences to the family
My deepest condolences to all of Tommie’s family. Tommie was a wonderful man.
Tommy thank you for your friendship and the opportunities you gave me. Donna we will keep you all in our prayers.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you during this sad time. I will always remember Mr. Townsend’s friendly smile at our games against Animas. Hugs Brooke!
To the family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Donna and I were friends since our college days in class at NMSU. Tommy was a special man and will be missed. My heartfelt c condolences to all.
RIP Tommy, thanks for being there when I as a young lost man and needed it. Though we didn’t see each other after I left I thought of you often. My Prayers are for your Family, I know where your at and we believers will be there soon enough!!
RIP, my furnace dad ,