Thomas Jefferies "Tom "Papa Tink"" Callister

Our sweet Papa Tink reunited with our mama on November 15, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family as he peacefully left this earth.

Thomas Jefferies Callister was born on June 28, 1943 to Noel and Jennie Jefferies Callister in Tooele, Utah.

Tom was raised in Grantsville, Utah, where he spent most of his life. When Tom was a teenager, he became the first male cheerleader for Grantsville High School. He could do a front handspring well into his adulthood. Tom enjoyed deer hunting with his Dad and brother. One year they took walkie-talkies on the hunt and needed "handles" to call each other. Noel became "The Fireman", Buzz was "The Buzzer" and Tom was "The Tinker" because he was always tinkering around with stuff, taking radios apart just so he could put them back together. The name stuck, and Tom is "Papa Tink" to his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Tom went to BYU for a year, where he studied woodworking. He was a very talented woodworker. Aside from a bunch of stitches in his head due to a filing cabinet mishap, Dad enjoyed his time at BYU.

Tom met and fell in love with his Becky. Their first date was on New Years' Eve 1965. Becky planned to go to Utah State University after high school graduation, but Tom wanted to marry her. Becky moved to Logan. Tom asked her parents Wilma and Larry for permission to ask her to marry him. Wilma asked him to let Becky do at least one semester of college before he asked. Tom said he would let Becky decide. The decision was easy for he and she moved home before ever attending college and they were married on January 13, 1967. Tom called her "Becky Baby Doll". Together they had seven children. Tom joined the Utah Air National Guard in 1965. He served 8 years, left for a while, then re-enlisted around the same time his oldest daughter Tina joined the Guard. Tom served a total of 18 years, making good friends and enjoying his time there. Tom worked for Morton Salt, then went to National Lead, where he eventually retired after the company changed hands a few times, including AMAX and Magcorp. Coworker Ron Fonger said Tom was the best machinist Magcorp ever had. Tom became the only locksmith in Grantsville, opening Tom's Key Shop. He built his key shop under the stairs in the same home he and Becky bought from Larry for $7,000. After having seven children, Tom single-handedly built a large two-story addition to the home. The home included a laundry chute from the upstairs bathroom to the downstairs, which the kids may have jumped through on occasion. Tom has fond memories of he and Becky cooking themselves a steak dinner on Christmas Eve after the kids went to bed. After Becky passed away in 1987, Tom learned to cook without his partner. He says his first attempt at meatloaf was a disaster. It was hard as a rock and he still doesn't know what ingredient he forgot. Tom says that Joe Hadfield was the best friend he had in his life. They would often go for a "Drink and a Twink". Tom says he has no regrets about his life and his greatest pride is his children.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Noel and Jennie Callister and his beloved wife, Becky. He is survived by his brother, Kenneth "Buzz" Callister (Dorothy) and his sister, Kay Callister Miller (Bob). 7 children, Tina Carlson (Ken). Tami Searle (Dave), Paul Callister (Michelle), Steve Callister, Ted Callister (Pam), Tara Baker (Steve) and Tawni Madsen (Mark). 17 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He will be missed dearly by so many.

Dad had a rough go of it at the end. He was at the University of Utah hospital. We would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to the entire staff of the Ortho Trauma Unit, the Hospice Team and the Palliative Care team that took such good care of Papa Tink while he was there. Also a big thank you to the staff at Diamond Jane's. They were fantastic.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM at the Lakeview Church, 163 UT-112, Grantsville, Utah 84029 A viewing will be held from 11:00-12:30 prior to services. Burial will follow in the Grantsville City Cemetery.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at daltonhoopes.com