Thomas “Tom” W. Wallace, Jr., 75, was born in Smithville, Texas, on April 13, 1940, to Janice (Foster) Wallace and Willard Wallace. He passed from this life after a brief illness on October 18, 2015, in Beaumont.

Tom, as did most men of his family, worked on the Katy railroad in Texas. He attended Texas A&M University and continued to follow the Aggies all his life. Tom was passionate about his horses, Sugar and Dottie. His delicious briskets were well known and in high demand from folks near and far. He never met a stranger and had many, many friends.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of twenty-eight years, Darlene; children, Tammy Lingerfelt and her husband, Beau, of Austell, Georgia; Teri Hancock and her husband, Rory, of Nederland; and Tracy Wallace of Nederland; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; his beloved pet, “Trixie Michelle”; and siblings, Jack Wallace and his wife, Barbara, of New Braunfels; Janice Perkins and her husband, Richard, of Lake Jackson; and Betty Lou “Sparky” Wallace of San Antonio.

A gathering of Tom’s family and friends will begin at 9:00 a.m., with a service to celebrate his life and legacy to follow at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22, 2015, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Smithville.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9908; or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210.