AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas has lowered its flags to half-mast today in response to the sad passing of yet another member of their sacred "Dallas Cowboys Number One Fan Club" and gilded member of the "Sons of Landry" society, Thomas F. "Tommy" Lamb, Jr., of Elkhart.

Thomas F. "Tommy" Lamb, Jr., 77, passed away Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 8:54 pm at Goshen General Hospital following a courageous battle and victorious win over cancer. Throughout his life, Tommy never, ever stepped down from a fight and this battle would be no different. Tommy has "dropped the microphone" and gone on to better things, including finally reuniting with his granddaughter angel Kristyana in their Savior's Kingdom. It was rumored that Tommy secretly wanted to go out while choking on a package of gummi bears so that during his service, they could just say that he was killed by bears and leave it at that.

Tommy (the only people that called him Thomas were members of law enforcement) was born in Chicago on March 7, 1944 to the late Thomas F. and Marie (Murphy) Lamb, and later married his beautiful Barbara "Barb" (Feyos) in 1971. As a matter of fact, he loved her so much he went and married her again in 1991, but we'll get to that later.

Along with Barb, Tommy is survived by his son, Thomas F. "Tommy" Lamb, III and his significant other Keisha Larkin; his daughters Judith M. "Judi" Ballard and Kimi M. (John J.) Jackson, both of Elkhart, and Kimberly (John) Brewer of South Carolina; sister Shirley Gaskin of Chicago, grandkids Neka, Jennifer, Keesha and Roger Ballard, Jr., Dustin Johnson, Brandon Gates, Terrance "Terry" Perkey, Mariah Williams, Trystan Swartz, John Jackson, Jr., Keaonna Clopton and Kamdyn and Duke Brewer; 18 great grandchildren (with one "on-the-way") and one dog named "Bear" that he stole from his son. Also grieving his untimely loss are a host of loving extended family members, friends, workmates, drinkin' buddies, in-laws, outlaws and some shady characters that no one seems to want to talk about. We figure if some of these folks were prodded enough, they might even say something good about Tommy. Finally, Tommy is preceded in death by his sisters Isabelle Marie Lamb and Anna May Stewart, as well as his beloved granddaughter Kristyana Marie Jackson, who was lost tragically almost 9 years ago to the month.

The Reverend Dr. Dannell Brown, Ph.D and the congregation of the AGAPE Missionary Baptist Church of Elkhart, 248 West Wolf Ave., Elkhart, are honored to host Tommy's Homegoing Celebration on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 2:00 pm, with visitation beginning there at 12 noon. In accordance with Tommy's wishes, cremation will follow with the assistance of Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Elkhart. His desire was for his cremated remains to go home with his beloved Barb instead of being buried, because he didn't want someone playing "Drop It Like It's Hot" at the cemetery.

As one may have deduced, Tommy was the consummate prankster and jokester. Nothing, and we mean NOTHING made Tommy happier than to see someone laughing because of him. Even if the joke, prank or story was at HIS expense, Tommy wore it like a badge because the laugh was everything. Example:  "The cashier said 'Strip down, facing the register'. By the time I realized she meant my debit card it was too late." Some of his classics would also somehow involve the unorthodox use of super glue or the ghastly "flick-the-dentures-out-of-your-mouth-for-a-second-then-flick-them-back-in move. That'd get a reaction from the grands every time.  Another all-time favorite was when young Tommy III was "freaking out" because there was a bumblebee in the car with he and Tommy, Tommy only exacerbated the situation by declaring, "oh yeah, I know…I've been watching that thing in the rearview mirror ever since we crossed the Johnson Street Bridge…that thing's been following you for at least a mile…" Pandemonium ensued.

Tommy worked in the RV industry nearly all his life and made many good friends and associates while on the job. Tommy had always been a self-made man, and he spent his whole life making his own way. Scrappy, tenacious and always ready to defend what he believed in, he went by the mantra of "You can mess with a butcher, you can mess with a baker, but if you mess with a Lamb, you mess with an undertaker." Most of his kids would agree that Tommy was about 50% book smart but his "street cred" was through the roof. Words like "real" and "selfless" and "legend" and "character" would come to mind. Tommy would literally give the shirt off his back for ANYone in need, and no one argued the fact that Tommy's helpful and giving personality endeared him to many. And Tommy was famous among the grandkids for his patented "dollar handshake", where he'd shake your hand and slip you some money.

Tommy had a very long and loving marriage of 49 total years to his beautiful wife Barb. Of course, Barb was a bit taken aback because, had they made it to 50 years, he would have taken her to Hawaii. Then on their 60th anniversary, he had said he'd go back and pick her up. But seriously, their love for each other was real and precious. Tommy, as with many, had picked up a bottle or two in his younger years and had a difficult time of putting it down, which let to a divorce. However, undaunted, Barb told Tommy that if he ever sobered up for a year or more, she'd marry him again. He kept his word; she kept her word. Thus, they were married twice! And do know that Tommy wasn't the only practical jokester in the family. Barb would always ask Tommy "Hey, do you know what today is?" on just a regular day, then sit back and watch Tommy sweat, wondering what occasion he could have missed.  Barb always knew who ruled the roost!!!

When Tommy wasn't particularly busy, he'd always head for the TV set and try to catch a game with his beloved Dallas Cowboys, but if they weren't on, the Bulls, Cubs, Sox or the Fighting Irish would do just fine. He was also a "news junkie" and spent hours checking out the situation the world was in with the folks on CNN. He also enjoyed playing on the computer and has asked that someone change his status to "Chilling with Jesus" and his occupation to "Haunting all of you"!

Finally, it should be acknowledged that Tommy was the only man in the history of men who absolutely LOVED shopping, especially for the grandkids or during that time just before Christmas; you know, Dec 26th to the following Dec. 24th. His grandson John, Jr. summed it up perfectly by saying that his Pawpaw was the best thing that ever happened to him and that he loved it when he (Tommy) made him laugh.

Memorial donations may be given to the charity of one's choice. Friends and relatives are encouraged to leave condolences and memories of Tommy by clicking "Tribute Wall" on his obituary page. Also, Cowboys, Cubs, Sox, Bulls or Irish wear is certainly encouraged!!!

Kiss Kristyana for us, Pawpaw!!