Thomas Jefferson Tatom

Thomas Jefferson Tatom     John 3:16

Thomas Jefferson Tatom, aka Tom, Jeff, Bubba, Brother, Catfish or Mississippi Tom age 58 of Valley City, North Dakota and Holt, Florida went to be with Jesus on April 22, 2024 at 3:07 a.m. He had a heart bigger than Texas and  he would help anyone he could wherever he went. He had a mischievous smile everyone remembers and he loved his family wholeheartedly. Family to him was more than blood.

Tom was born on March 27, 1966 at the Naval Base Hospital in Pensacola, Florida to Thomas Everett Tatom and Velta Mae McCurley Tatom. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and paternal grandparents Harvey and Lillian Tatom and maternal grandparents Ephraem McCurley and Willie Mae McCurley Eney and step grandfather Buddy Eney. Many aunts, uncles and cousins. Special aunt and uncles Barbara Tatom Shafer and Ed Shafer of Texas, Randolph and Pearl Edge, Annie McCurley Espinosa Gilmore of Crestview, his niece Staci Moore, cousin Monique Michelle Espinosa.

Tom is survived by his wife and best friend, Cynthia Kandace Chelf-Nelsen Tatom of Valley City, his daughters, Christy Ann Tatom Royals of Crestview, Jennifer Alacyn Kiefert Heitzmann (Quin Svenningsen) of Valley City, his sisters, Ellen Mae Nowling (Larry) of Holt, Delilah Jane Moore of Valley City, his aunt, Mary Gilmore of Valley City, his uncle, Elijah McCurley of Washington State, his grandsons, Ozzy Gage Alford and Yahshuah Stuart Royals of Crestview, his granddaughters, Alexis Dakota Heitzmann and Gracie Faye Heitzmann of Valley City, his nieces and nephews, Ashley Nowling and sons Zeek, Atlas and daughter Jaylis of Holt, Thomas Daniel Chesser of Holt and his children Velta, Thomas, Ethan and Allison, Courtney Tatom of Crestview and her children Collin, Caleb, Dalton, D.J. and Raelyn, his Godson, Andrew Espinosa of Niceville, Florida, his cousins, David (Barbara) Edge, Tony (Sharon) Edge and their children, his extra special cousin, Donna Edge of DeFuniak Springs, Fl., Renee (Hugo) Garza and their children, Anna, Jesse, Javon and Aurora of Crestview, Callie Mae Watford and her children, Cassie Lee Wilson and Caleb Watford of Valley City, Alex Linderman in Valley City and many other cousins and relatives to numerous to list.

Tom will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He left some big shoes to fill and holes in our hearts that will never be filled. He would not want you to cry for him because he filled many of the items on his bucket list with the help of his family and wife Cynthia. He is in heaven with his mom and pets Roxie and Peanut and is not in the pain he fought for the last 2 years. Just know through it all Tom or Jeff (If that is what you call him) LOVED and CHERISHED all of you!

See ya’ll on the other side where we will all be whole again.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be Saturday, May 4, 2024 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Life Tabernacle 3136 Pinewoods Drive, Crestview, Florida, 32539. There will be livestream viewing on Life Tabernacle’s (Crestview) Facebook page at 10:30 am central time.

A celebration of Tom’s Life will be planned at a future date up in his home of Valley City, North Dakota.

No flowers please due to wife’s allergies.

In Lieu of Flowers: Donations for medical bills would be much appreciated.