Tad Lanford

SAN ANGELO Tad Lanford, 53, of San Angelo, died Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Sierra Vista Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home. Tad was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Greenville, Texas, where he graduated high school in 1976. He moved to San Angelo and attended Angelo State University. Tad immediately began his retail business career with a job at Sound Box which he ultimately co-owned with Brad Bratton, where they were known as the "Good Guys." In 1995, Tad and business partner Rodney Bratton began Bratton's Home Furnishings which later became Ashley's Furniture Home Store. In 2007, Tad added Ashley Furniture Home Store locations in Abilene and Wichita Falls. Tad gave much of his time to coaching his daughters' numerous soccer and basketball teams. He loved each and every girl and they loved their "Coach Tad" too. The families of his special teams, Attack and Swish, were an extension of his own family. He also gave of his time at CASA, San Angelo Soccer Association and Trinity Lutheran Church, where he taught Sunday school. He was also a teaching member of the Friendship Sunday school class at Sierra Vista Methodist Church. Tad's greatest joy in life was his family and friends. His fondest memories were of his two young daughters starring in the "Think Brattons" TV commercials. He also took great pride in his grown son, J.T. Tad had a heart of gold and never met a stranger. He always gave so generously of himself, including his last gift of organ donation. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister. Survivors include his wife, Stephanie; and their two daughters, Kymberli of College Station-ATM and Kassidy of San Angelo; his son, J.T. Lanford; J.T.'s mother, Suzi Reynolds; brothers Jon Lanford of Farmington, Mass., Tony Lanford of Marble Falls; sister Darby Deihl of Dallas; mother and father-in-law, Joy and David Oates of Brownfield; sister-in-law Stacey and husband Richard Carter and their children, Blake, Brooks and Brandt of Shallowater; a special grandmother, Frances Oates of Loop; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Devin Bates, E.J. Bible, Richard Carter, Warren Conway, Randy Hutchins and Danny Kiser. Honorary pallbearers are Brad Bratton, Rodney Bratton and Shawn Wilkins. 1Cornithians 13:13, "And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." The family requests that donations be made to the donor's favorite charity. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com.