Thomas Allen Ferrell, 80, passed away on Saturday evening, June 16, at Baptist Medical Center South, Jacksonville, Florida.
Tom spent his life working with people from all walks of life and he had the gift of seeing the good in and liking and appreciating everyone. As a young man living in Huntersville/Charlotte, NC, he was known in the world of drag racing as "Big Tom," first as a race car driver and later as a race track owner. He owned Greer Dragway in Greer, South Carolina from 1975-2015 and Shuffletown Dragway in Charlotte from 1969 until the late 90s. He created "Bracket Racing" now known and used all over the world. His knowledge of cars and motors was vast. He worked at Frederickson Truck Lines as a senior mechanic during his racing years. His love for racing continued with Greyhound Racing from 1983-2003.
Tom was a true entrepreneur and loved developing and promoting entertainment businesses. Throughout his adult life, he didn't hesitate when seeing an opportunity to take the challenge to develop and promote a successful business. He often supported others with similar desires to be able to do the same. His wife of 58 years was always by his side in each and every venture and their daughters too were often part of their business model. Some of the business' today remain family ventures.
Tom was a businessman for sure but above all his family was his most treasured part of life. He loved his growing family dearly. He is survived by his wife, Karen Vichesky, Ferrell, and two daughters, Manya Ferrell Jeffers (Fred) and Karen Ferrell Hunt (Travis). He was affectionately known as Papa or Pops in the family and many of the grandchildren enjoyed him as Grandpa. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Brandon, Kristopher, and Stacia Hunt and John Cottle, Angel Nicolodi, and Gaylon Cathey. In addition he had eight beautiful great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Delaine Ferrell (Nancy) of Huntersville, NC.He is preceded in death by two daughters, Sandra Ferrell Wells on March 8, 1997 and Tonya Ferrell Cathey on February 5, 2018.The family will receive visitors Thursday, June 21, from 5-7 pm at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Florida. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park. Burial will follow. Officiating the service will be Todd Marlin, Pastor of Independence Hill Baptist Church.
Tom spent his life working with people from all walks of life and he had the gift of seeing the good in and liking and appreciating everyone. As a young man living in Huntersville/Charlotte, NC, he was known in the world of drag racing as "Big Tom," first as a race car driver and later as a race track owner. He owned Greer Dragway in Greer, South Carolina from 1975-2015 and Shuffletown Dragway in Charlotte from 1969 until the late 90s. He created "Bracket Racing" now known and used all over the world. His knowledge of cars and motors was vast. He worked at Frederickson Truck Lines as a senior mechanic during his racing years. His love for racing continued with Greyhound Racing from 1983-2003.
Tom was a true entrepreneur and loved developing and promoting entertainment businesses. Throughout his adult life, he didn't hesitate when seeing an opportunity to take the challenge to develop and promote a successful business. He often supported others with similar desires to be able to do the same. His wife of 58 years was always by his side in each and every venture and their daughters too were often part of their business model. Some of the business' today remain family ventures.
Tom was a businessman for sure but above all his family was his most treasured part of life. He loved his growing family dearly. He is survived by his wife, Karen Vichesky, Ferrell, and two daughters, Manya Ferrell Jeffers (Fred) and Karen Ferrell Hunt (Travis). He was affectionately known as Papa or Pops in the family and many of the grandchildren enjoyed him as Grandpa. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Brandon, Kristopher, and Stacia Hunt and John Cottle, Angel Nicolodi, and Gaylon Cathey. In addition he had eight beautiful great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Delaine Ferrell (Nancy) of Huntersville, NC.He is preceded in death by two daughters, Sandra Ferrell Wells on March 8, 1997 and Tonya Ferrell Cathey on February 5, 2018.The family will receive visitors Thursday, June 21, from 5-7 pm at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Florida. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park. Burial will follow. Officiating the service will be Todd Marlin, Pastor of Independence Hill Baptist Church.
Thomas Allen Ferrell, 80, passed away on Saturday evening, June 16, at Baptist Medical Center South, Jacksonville, Florida.
Tom spent his life working with people from all walks of life and he had the gift of seeing the good in and liking and appreciating everyone. As a young man living in Huntersville/Charlotte, NC, he was known in the world of drag racing as "Big Tom," first as a race car driver and later as a race track owner. He owned Greer Dragway in Greer, South Carolina from 1975-2015 and Shuffletown Dragway in Charlotte from 1969 until the late 90s. He created "Bracket Racing" now known and used all over the world. His knowledge of cars and motors was vast. He worked at Frederickson Truck Lines as a senior mechanic during his racing years. His love for racing continued with Greyhound Racing from 1983-2003.
Tom was a true entrepreneur and loved developing and promoting entertainment businesses. Throughout his adult life, he didn't hesitate when seeing an opportunity to take the challenge to develop and promote a successful business. He often supported others with similar desires to be able to do the same. His wife of 58 years was always by his side in each and every venture and their daughters too were often part of their business model. Some of the business' today remain family ventures.
Tom was a businessman for sure but above all his family was his most treasured part of life. He loved his growing family dearly. He is survived by his wife, Karen Vichesky, Ferrell, and two daughters, Manya Ferrell Jeffers (Fred) and Karen Ferrell Hunt (Travis). He was affectionately known as Papa or Pops in the family and many of the grandchildren enjoyed him as Grandpa. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Brandon, Kristopher, and Stacia Hunt and John Cottle, Angel Nicolodi, and Gaylon Cathey. In addition he had eight beautiful great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Delaine Ferrell (Nancy) of Huntersville, NC.He is preceded in death by two daughters, Sandra Ferrell Wells on March 8, 1997 and Tonya Ferrell Cathey on February 5, 2018.The family will receive visitors Thursday, June 21, from 5-7 pm at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Florida. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park. Burial will follow. Officiating the service will be Todd Marlin, Pastor of Independence Hill Baptist Church.
Tom spent his life working with people from all walks of life and he had the gift of seeing the good in and liking and appreciating everyone. As a young man living in Huntersville/Charlotte, NC, he was known in the world of drag racing as "Big Tom," first as a race car driver and later as a race track owner. He owned Greer Dragway in Greer, South Carolina from 1975-2015 and Shuffletown Dragway in Charlotte from 1969 until the late 90s. He created "Bracket Racing" now known and used all over the world. His knowledge of cars and motors was vast. He worked at Frederickson Truck Lines as a senior mechanic during his racing years. His love for racing continued with Greyhound Racing from 1983-2003.
Tom was a true entrepreneur and loved developing and promoting entertainment businesses. Throughout his adult life, he didn't hesitate when seeing an opportunity to take the challenge to develop and promote a successful business. He often supported others with similar desires to be able to do the same. His wife of 58 years was always by his side in each and every venture and their daughters too were often part of their business model. Some of the business' today remain family ventures.
Tom was a businessman for sure but above all his family was his most treasured part of life. He loved his growing family dearly. He is survived by his wife, Karen Vichesky, Ferrell, and two daughters, Manya Ferrell Jeffers (Fred) and Karen Ferrell Hunt (Travis). He was affectionately known as Papa or Pops in the family and many of the grandchildren enjoyed him as Grandpa. He was blessed with six grandchildren, Brandon, Kristopher, and Stacia Hunt and John Cottle, Angel Nicolodi, and Gaylon Cathey. In addition he had eight beautiful great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Richard Delaine Ferrell (Nancy) of Huntersville, NC.He is preceded in death by two daughters, Sandra Ferrell Wells on March 8, 1997 and Tonya Ferrell Cathey on February 5, 2018.The family will receive visitors Thursday, June 21, from 5-7 pm at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, Florida. Funeral services are planned for 2:00 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park. Burial will follow. Officiating the service will be Todd Marlin, Pastor of Independence Hill Baptist Church.
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