Thomas Derriel Theriot
Tom Theriot, son of Hayden and Willie May, became a proud Texas A&M Aggie after graduating as valedictorian from Sour Lake, Texas High in 1950. As an Aggie, he was in the Army Corps while obtaining a dual degree in petroleum engineering and geology. So after graduation, he entered the Army as a lieutenant and participated in Shell Oil’s training program. While attending officers’ training at Ft Lee, VA, he met his wife, the love of his life, Joyce Lee Paulette, at a new officers’ welcoming party. They were married in Tom’s hometown church in Sour Lake, TX, on April 4, 1956, and lived in Ft Lee for a year before getting orders for S. Korea, where he served in the Quartermaster Corps.
The Army honorably discharged Lt. Theriot in 1958 and he immediately went to work as a petroleum engineer for Shell Oil Company in Midland, Texas. His first two sons, Greg and Kyle, were born there, but at age 30, God called him into full-time Christian ministry. He had a third son, Kevin, and pastored a small local church while obtaining a Master of Divinity at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft Worth, TX. After graduating, he moved to Youngstown, Ohio, and founded Liberty Baptist Church in 1966, where he served as senior pastor for 25 years. Pastor Tom’s daughter, Leanne, was born as he built a loving congregation and beautiful church that still serves the people of Northern Ohio. Liberty Baptist also sponsored three other church plants, including one in the inner city, under Pastor Tom’s leadership.
God led Tom back to Texas in 1991 to care for his elderly parents. He ministered there part-time at a local church and taught inmates at the Huntsville State Prison how to change their way of thinking through cognitive intervention so they could avoid prison in the future. After his parents died, Tom retired from teaching school and moved to Mt Juliet, Tennessee, to live close to Greg and Kyle and their families. He partnered with Greg and Patsy Theriot to build 12 houses over the next few years.
And Tom became an active member of Gladeville Baptist Church. At “The Glade,” he was a beloved deacon, ministered to shut-ins, and taught the Gleaner’s Bible class for about 15 years. Pastor Tom retired from teaching and preaching at age 89 due to health issues, but continued to serve and honor God through fervent and regular prayer.
Tom went to meet his Lord and Savior in his sleep the morning of September 21, 2025, at the amazing age of 92. God was always faithful throughout his life and ministry.
Tom is survived by a loving wife, four children, eleven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He proudly posed in pictures with them till just before he died. God truly blessed him with a full quiver, an abundant life, and a God-honoring legacy!
Funeral service will be 12:00 Noon, Saturday October 4, 2025, at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home. Interment will follow with military honors at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gladeville Baptist Church
LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME of Lebanon (615) 444-2142 www.ligonbobo.com
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