Thomas Woodrow "Tommy" Souther

Thomas Woodrow "Tommy" Souther, 89, of Mills River passed away Saturday, May 21, at Elizabeth House. A native of Henderson County, he was a son of the D.T. and Reba Case Souther. Tommy was also preceded in death by his wife of sixty-five years, Martha Goode Souther; a brother, John Souther and two sisters, Florence Clay and Louise Houk.
He was a former deacon and elder at Mills River Presbyterian Church. He drove a school bus nineteen years at Mills River Elementary School. In 1985 Tommy retired from Ecusta Corporation in Brevard. He was a founding and lifetime member of Mills River Fire and Rescue. He was a Navy veteran, serving on the USS Reno as a Fireman First Class. He volunteered for many in the Mills River Community. He was the best "Daddy" in the world.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Cox of Etowah, Carolyn Christianson and her husband Fred of Horse Shoe; Four grandchildren, Shelley C. Earley, Brian Cox and his wife Marque of Etowah, Scott Orr and his wife Stacy of Horse Shoe, Candace Banks and her husband Jason of South Carolina; four great grandchildren, Shawna Gilliam, Allison E. Yingst and her husband Dustin, Katelyn Earley, Hailee Orr, Maggie Cox, Josie Cox; three brothers, Floyd Souther of Fletcher, Frank Souther and his wife L.E. of Hemet, CA, Robert Souther of Mills River; several nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be at 2:00 pm Tuesday at Mills River Presbyterian Church. Rev. Clyde Bryson, Chief Rick Livingston, and Rev. Randall Boggs will officiate. Burial with military and firefighter honors will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm Monday at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Mills River Fire and Rescue, 121 Schoolhouse Road, Mills River, NC 28759.
To sign an online guest book please visit www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.
Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.