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November 26, 1947 - January 20, 2014
Walter Thomas Bessett (Tom), 66, passed away Monday, January 20th 2014 after a short battle with brain cancer.
He was born to the late Eber and Frances Bessett on Nov. 26, 1947, in Long Beach, CA.
Tom graduated from Richardson High School in 1966 and attended North Texas University. He married Mary (Chuckie) Fultz in 1979 and they lived in Plano before moving to Arlington and then Richardson.
Tom was a very caring and giving man always showing up with gifts for your kids and family. If you ever needed help, he was there. He was about doing what was right when it came to relationships regardless of the cost to himself. Tom enjoyed making people laugh. Humor was how he communicated. He was always surrounded by his canine friends and was a generous supporter of DFW Rescue Me. He was a strong family man a member of St Paul the Apostle Parish. Since being reunited with his childhood church, he never missed a mass.
From early on he loved anything with a motor…cars, boats, motorcycles, airplanes, leading him to work in the automotive industry. He was a serial entrepreneur who had tremendous success in his life and always had a new “deal” to tell you about.
Tom was an avid scuba diver and enjoyed vacationing in the Caymans with family and close friends. His other love was auto racing.
Tom is survived by his wife and daughter: Chuckie and Amy Bessett. He also is survived by grandsons; Russell Hurst and Walter Hencken, as well as great-granddaughter, Zaylie Hurst. He is preceded in death by his brother Rusty and his son Jay Hurst.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to DFW Rescue Me. Their web address is www.DFWRescueMe.org
A mass will be held in his honor at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish located at 720 S. Floyd Road, Richardson, Texas 75080 at 11AM on Saturday, February 1 and a Celebration of Tom’s Life will immediately follow mass.
Arrangements are under the direction of
Aria Cremation Service & Funeral Home
19310 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75252
214) 306-6700
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The Brodnax Family
January 31, 2014 9:13AM
Words cannot express our love for the entire family. Even though we are not related, we are family. We were so lucky to have the opportunity to have Tom in our lives. We started our mornings with seeing his smiling face. The kids will miss you so much!!! Thank you for taking such great care of us and our dogs. You are truly an angel.
Michelle Thomas, CPA
January 30, 2014 11:51AM
I'm so sorry for your loss. I will surely miss "Ole Tom" as he called himself. He was indeed my Favorite customer or as he would say "your favorite pain in the ___!" He was such a jolly person, big kidder, always had a story to tell me. One of my long time clients who had been with me since I opened.
To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. See you soon Tom.
Jeremy Pirotte
January 28, 2014 5:31PM
Tom was a great man and will be dearly missed.
Joanne
January 26, 2014 5:19PM
Sincere condolences to the family. May your warm memories bring you comfort as well as the hope of a future resurrection as promised at Acts 24:15.
John Mueller
January 26, 2014 1:57PM
I was in business in Plano and had a long business relationship with Tom. I was always proud to say he was my friend.
So Sorry for the loss .
John Mueller
LaWanda Hetherington
January 26, 2014 10:02AM
Chuckie-all my love to you and your family. Leisa and I have lots of fond memories of our good times here at the lake. Ernie has been gone 4 years, good memories will keep you going.Wish we had kept in touch.
Jack and Edie Zehr
January 26, 2014 9:02AM
Tom was one of the most innovative persons I have ever known. So sorry for your loss.
Peggy Boren Valentine
January 26, 2014 7:52AM
My condolences to the family and friends of Tom, he will be greatly missed.
Kevin Smith
January 25, 2014 2:32PM
I will miss dearly miss Tom. He took me under his wing while I was still in college and taught me more than he will ever know. The memories of working at Regency and Legend Conversions are forever in my mind. I still hear the "ooohhh Keveeeee" being yelled from down the hall (He wouldn't use the intercom) when he had a big project that he knew I wouldn't be happy about. He had such a great sense of humor. He always had a nickname for you. I always had the deepest respect for Tom. He was one of a kind.
Marienne Murphy
January 24, 2014 5:30PM
Had a good many fun times with you and Chuckie. Good memories!
Vicki Denton
January 24, 2014 1:56PM
God saw you were getting tired
and a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you
and whispered, "Come with me."
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer and saw you fade away
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.
A "golden heart" stopped beating,
Working hands put to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the Best.
Much love and prayers, Vicki Denton
Tracy Roberson
January 23, 2014 5:56PM
So very sorry for your loss. Prayers sent and hugs to all.