Thomas "Tommy" Andrew Perez

Thomas “Tommy” Andrew Perez passed away peacefully on January 18, 2024 after a short illness.  Tommy was born on July 14, 1960 in Fort Smith, AR and moved to Dallas, TX with his family in 1970.  He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Andrew Joseph Perez and Jeannine Matthews Perez, and his older brother and best friend, Timothy (Tim) Perez.

As a child, Tommy was rambunctious and averse to following the rules, frustrating his parents and teachers. He was headstrong when it came to getting his own way. The funny thing about it, Tommy almost always got his way because he was confident and determined. His first job was at a car wash.  Not used to being told “no,” he set a goal to “upsell” and convince his customers to buy a more expensive car wash.  He was quite successful and found that his persistence and strong will could be an asset.

Tommy’s “people skills” came naturally.  He was gregarious and extraverted – friendly, outgoing, and likeable with a great sense of humor.  Tommy never met a stranger.  He greeted people wherever he went, made small talk, and showed a genuine interest in each person he met.  He was very observant of his surroundings and could “read” a room full of people.  Never shy, he knew how to schmooze and compliment people. He knew how to make other people feel good.

As Tommy grew older, he grew more polite, respectful, and appreciative of people who helped him, especially his siblings.  Few people knew how family-oriented Tommy was or how sensitive and vulnerable he was.  He had a kind heart even though he tried to hide it. No one was more devoted to our parents than Tommy.  He knew he was loved and that they would support him unconditionally.  They were equally devoted to him and protective of him.

Tommy lived life on his own terms.  He had an adventurous spirit.  He loved music and traveled across the country to see his favorite group, the Rolling Stones, play in concert.  He visited cities from coast to coast just for the experience. Besides music, Tommy enjoyed watching the news and following politics.  One of his greatest pleasures was watching old sit coms that were popular during his youth. He was a devoted Dallas Cowboy fan after they won their first Super Bowl in 1972. Game days were always exciting with the three brothers watching the games with our father.  Tommy was also an avid fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He enjoyed cooking and his favorites were Mexican food and seafood.

Tommy is survived by his other best friend and younger brother, Terry Perez, his three sisters – Belinda Gregory, Julie Perez (Gary Carpenter), Anne Perez (Joel Forgus), nieces, nephew, and many cousins, aunts, and uncles.  We will miss him dearly and cherish him forever.

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