Thomas Elliott "Tom" Tullis

Thomas Elliott Tullis, age 88, died December 10th, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Joanne Tullis. He is survived by his second wife of 3 years, Mary Jane Moring Tullis, and his son, Scott Tullis.

Thomas (Tom) was born in New Caledonia, Arkansas to Robert Tullis and Inez Elliott Tullis. He lived in Arkansas all of his life. As a child he lived in several small towns near El Dorado and Magnolia and attended high school in Junction City where he played basketball, football and baseball and has kept close ties with classmates, family and friends there. He also enjoyed taking his family fishing, camping and water skiing mostly on Lake Ouachita, and snow skiing in the Rocky Mountains. After retirement, he played golf into his 80s to stay active. He and his wife traveled widely, but they loved visiting the National Parks out west the most.

Tom had a long work history.

He started work at 7 years old throwing morning and evening newspaper routes in Junction City. In college he studied geology at SAU in Magnolia where he met his wife, Joanne. He then went to work in the oil fields in Southern Arkansas. until after he married Joanne in 1961. They soon moved to Pine Bluff where he got his first higher paying job as the appliance salesman at Sears. With that experience, he soon took a better job as appliance salesman at OTASCO in Jefferson Square where he did well for over 17 years. Toward the end, after key upper management changes, he left OTASCO and opened TRT Incorporated, a used car and new custom van dealership at 25th and Olive Street. As Pine Bluff's economy declined in the late 80s, he closed his dealership and briefly sold cars for Trotter Ford until he became a partner at American Chemical and Janitorial Supply in Pine Bluff. There for many years, he sold and helped formulate chemicals for automatic dishwashers, car washes and other janitorial supplies he marketed in Arkansas and surrounding states. He retired just over 10 years ago.

The church was a large part of his life. He was a member, Sunday School teacher and deacon at several Southern Baptist churches in Pine Bluff over the years including South Side, New Life and Watson Chapel. When churches needed a pastor, he filled in as preacher, he officiated a few weddings, and also helped start a few churches around Arkansas.

Tom was also an avid University of Arkansas Razorback fan and would often go out of his way to see the Hogs play football and basketball.

Service to be held at Watson Chapel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 at 11:00AM. Visitation will be one hour before the service.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400