May 19, 1940 - November 18, 2024

Thomas Edgar Cawood, 84, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Golden Years Assisted Living, Spring City, TN.  

Born in Spring City on May 19, 1940, he was the son of the late Hazel Gibson Cawood Smith and the late Carl Wasson Cawood.  

Thomas Edgar was known by many names over the years, Tom, Edgar, T. Edgar, Colonel Tom, as well as Dad and G-Daddy.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and recent great grandfather and spent most of his life making people laugh.  He was an extrovert who loved being around people and who could always find creative ways to make a living.  He was an entrepreneur extraordinaire.

With the death of his father at a very early age, Tom learned quickly how to make ends meet creatively.  As a young boy, he had a paper route, shined shoes at the barber shop, pumped gas and cleaned car windows at the service station.  As a teenager, he worked many summers on his Aunt Hadie and Uncle Maurice Lee Dade’s farm in Jefferson, MD. His Aunt Lena took him to CA and taught him how to sell encyclopedias door to door. Following the wise advice of his uncle, Tom joined the Navy at age 18. He spent four years (1958-1962) serving our country on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and the USS Shangri-la as a Gunner’s Mate Technician.

After the navy, Tom worked for a time as an asphalt paver while working to meet the stringent requirements for the police department. He worked as a Montgomery County Policeman from (1964- 1974). Being selected as a Motorman for the Police Department was one of his proudest accomplishments. Riding the motorcycle, writing tickets, investigating accidents and the lifelong friendships he made as a result were some of his favorite memories.

While working as a policeman, Tom and his first wife owned and operated Montgomery County Outhouse Rentals in Clarksburg, Maryland, from 1970 until they sold it in 1990.  While building that business, he also bought, sold and traded horses, enjoying winning many blue ribbons at local horse shows.  Never one to be still, Tom decided that he wanted to become an auctioneer.  He graduated from Mendenhall School of Auctioneering in November 1976 and after working with several local auctioneers, decided to start another business of his own - Tom Cawood Auctioneer and Associates.  While managing the Outhouse Business and Auctioneering, he also played music with several local bands.  He loved playing bass and dressing up in costume to entertain the crowd.  

In 1993, Tom met Patty Judd Broome, and they married in December 1995. Tom moved from Clarksburg back to his hometown of Spring City, TN, where he and Patty enjoyed living on Watts Bar Lake and riding motorcycles with friends. Not one to sit still for long, in 1997, Tom decided to go back to school to get his Real Estate License.  So, while still auctioneering for local churches and charities, and continuing his favorite hobbies of hunting, fishing and golfing, he also spent the next 15 years selling homes in the local area.  After retiring his real estate license, Tom volunteered as a bailiff for the Spring City Court and continued his love for playing music at local nursing homes.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, Gene Smith and his first wife, Virginia Cawood.

Tom is survived by his wife of 29 years, Patty Judd Cawood, his daughter, Amy (Rodney) Ross of Cleveland, SC, son, Alan Cawood, of Hagerstown, MD, and stepson, Eric (Claire) Broome of Flintstone, GA.  Grandchildren, Rebekah Ross of Greer, SC, Ryan (Ashley) Ross of Easley, SC, Keira Cawood of Hagerstown, MD, Wallace Broome of Flintstone, GA and Emery Broome of Flintstone, GA.  Great granddaughter, Amelia Ross of Easley, SC.  Sister, Anna Lou Hilburn of Yucca Valley, CA. 

Funeral services with military honors will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. at the Spring City First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:00 P.M. until time of services. He will be buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 11:00 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to Alzheimer’s of Tennessee, East TN Office, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN 37919, online address www.alztennessee.org or First Baptist Church Spring City, TN, P.O. Box 127, Spring City, TN 37381.

Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of the arrangements of Thomas Edgar Cawood and asks that friends share condolences and memories of him with the family on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.