Obituary of Thomas Alfred Shouse

Thomas Alfred Shouse, age 62, left his earthly body on June 15th, 2021. He won his battle with cancer and has gone Home to begin his ultimate fishing trip. His smile was infectious and all that knew him loved him. Funeral Services will be held at Lea and Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 12:00 PM. Visitation will be at 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM. His nephew, Bryan Masters will perform the services. Thomas was born in Santa Ana, Californa on July 30, 1958 to George Lee Shouse and Alila Jean Brankin Shouse. His dad was one of 15 children and his mother, an only child. Thomas was a 30-year employee with Shelby County government. He loved his job and his coworkers. He never “worked” a day in his life. Most recently, he worked as a criminal investigator with the district attorney’s office. He had a lot of fun jobs through his years with the court system. He was private about it but his smile said it all when he would come everyday. He also enjoyed his time at Independent Presbytarian Church as a security guard. In his younger years, he loved painting with his dad and would tag his daughter, Misty along on the fun jobs. He enjoyed trying new restaurants with his wife, Michele and was a self made food critic. He loved to play in his yard and never had enough “yard art.” He worked hard, played hard, and prayed hard. He loved God and in his final days he would comfort us by telling us that God was ready for him. He and Michele met at the age of 17 on a blind date and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.” They started a wonderful life together in Oklahoma, and continued and grew that life together after moving to Tennessee in 1987. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He and Jacob spent hours playing in concrete, dirt, and rocks. He loved to take him bow shooting at the range and they spent lots of time talking about guns, fishing and hunting. He loved watching him play baseball and football. Madison loved to share desserts with her papa. They loved playing in the yard together and she never let a holiday or event happen with getting papa his cheetos. Dad would spend hours “going on a bear hunt” in the backyard with Jacob and Madison and would often bribe them with money to try new foods. Thomas was preceded in death by his father, George Lee Shouse and mother, Alila Jean Brankin Shouse; father-in-law, Dean Watson; and mother-in-law, Doretta Watson. He is survived by his loving wife, Michele of 44 years; daughter, Misty (Jarrod) Rhodes of Brownsville, TN; grandson Jacob and granddaughter Madison. Thomas is also survived by brothers, Gary Shouse, Bobby Shouse, Dennis Shouse, and sister, Sheila Shouse, brothers-in-law, Steve Watson (Cindy) of Owasso, Oklahoma, David Watson and Curt Allison of Vancouver, Canada, sisters-in-law, Karen Watson of Collinsville, Oklahoma, and Carol (Russell) Masters of Covington, LA and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. All services and arrangments are under the direction of the Lea & Simmons Funeral Home in Brownsville, TN.