Thomas Charles Schirtz, Sr.

Thomas Charles Schirtz, Sr., age 85, of Maryville, TN, affectionately known as Papa, Aye-ya, and Pops, passed on to his forever home of no pain and suffering on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Foothills Nursing Home in Maryville.

Tom was born in Mattydale, NY, and moved to Clearwater, FL at the age of 11, where he grew up. He co-owned the Virgil’s Phillips 66 Gas Station in safety Harbor, FL, where he married his wife of 64 years, Thora, and raised their three children. After getting out of the gas station business, he opened a mechanic shop and fuel oil business. He then went on to work for Carlisle Lincoln-Mercury in Clearwater. In 1997, they moved to Maryville where he worked for Lance Cunningham Ford, later retiring from Ray Varner Ford. Maryville was his favorite place to vacation for many years while living in Florida, so it made him so happy to live out his final years here. Tom was an extremely hard-working man, loved to cook BBQ chicken, and was always quick with a joke or a funny story to keep people entertained.

He is preceded in death by his father Charles Schirtz, Sr., mother Alberta Cole, brother Frederick Kennedy, sister Nancy Davis, and son William Gary.

He is survived by loving and faithful wife Thora Schirtz of Maryville; son Thomas, Jr. of New Orleans; daughter Terri (Tim) Burke of Maryville; brother Charles (Paula) Schirtz of New York; brother Joseph Schirtz of North Carolina; sister Debi Cooper of Jonesborough; granddaughters Amanda Schirtz of Maryville and Marilyn Colvin of Clarksville; great-grandchildren Kreston (Maryville) and Micah, Jaelyn, Kayla, Mariah, Kamilla, and Gabriella (Clarksville); several extra-special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews; as well as many bonus kids and grandkids throughout the years!

There will be no service per Tom’s request. The family may have a Celebration of Life at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at Foothills Nursing Home of Maryville and Gentiva Hospice of Sevierville for their caring support of Thomas.