Tommie William Pewitt

Tommie William Pewitt loved God, his family; his country; history; traveling; learning about his ancestors; classical, church and Broadway music. He enjoyed and cared for his friends, his co-workers, his church family, and so many others who came into his life.

He helped with activities and projects such as vacation Bible schools, Bible studies, various committees and in choirs with four churches. Tommie attended Airline Baptist, Memorial Baptist and First Baptist Church of Kenner in the Metairie (New Orleans) area where he lived most of his life. He moved to Arlington, Texas, in 2015. He became a member of Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington in 2016 and continued volunteering there. He also spread the Gospel as a Gideon in Louisiana and Texas.

He married Juanita Billiot Pewitt in 1955. During their 67-year marriage, they raised three children and visited all 50 U.S. states, as well as Canada and Mexico. They enjoyed square dancing and traveled to different states for square dancing events. Tommie particularly enjoyed nature, visiting state capitals and historical sites.

Tommie’s life journey began in Waco, Texas, in 1932. His father worked for the Corp of Engineers, which caused the family to move to Louisiana. They settled in New Orleans when Tommie began school. He graduated from Fortier High School in 1950, and he enjoyed playing clarinet in the band while at Fortier.

Tommie studied chemistry at Tulane University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1954. He enjoyed serving in the Air Force ROTC at Tulane. Tommie joined Shell Oil Co. in Norco, La., as a chemist in 1954. He led a professional chemical instrument organization while at Shell, and in 1993, after 36 years with Shell, he retired.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita Billiot Pewitt of Arlington, TX;  two daughters and a son-in-law, Kim Pewitt Jones of Mansfield, TX; Jan Pewitt Scheller and Kenneth Scheller of Lake Hills, TX; and one son, Alan William Pewitt of St. Rose, La.;  one sister, Betty Pewitt Baker Corwin of Ponchatoula, La.; four grandchildren and their spouses, Jason Alan Jones and Aisling Hayden Jones; Amy Harmeyer Hyde and Gerald Hyde; Brian Lee Jones and Alanna Hayden Jones, Scott Michael Harmeyer and Ashley Bonomolo Harmeyer; 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, cousins and innumerable friends. His parents, Alfred and Olivia Pewitt of Metairie, La., his brother Mark Harrison of Baton Rouge, La., his brother-in-law Deforest “JoDee” Corwin of Abita Springs, La., and his son-in-law Obet “Buddy” Jones of Mansfield, TX, predeceased him.

We shall love and miss him forever. He made all our lives better.

Funeral service: Saturday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m., at Tate Springs Baptist Church, 4201 Little Rd, Arlington, TX 76016;

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Gideons in memory of Tommie W. Pewitt

Burial will be in Metairie, Louisiana on Aug. 9