Hefner

Thomas Francis Hefner Jr. died Thursday, July 6, 2017 after a brief illness. He was born in Stamford on July 23, 1946 to Thomas Francis Hefner Sr and Maxine Trammel Hefner. His parents raised him in Aspermont and Abilene. Tom was a typical West Texas boy who loved the outdoors, spending time with his granny, playing in the woods, driving fast cars, fishing, sports, girls, and getting thumped in the head by his Daddy’s Mason ring. He worked as a Texas DPS undercover narcotics agent in the Lubbock and Austin area. Later in life, he went to work with his son as a plumber and pipefitter for Local 286 in Austin where he was lovingly (maybe not always) referred to as “Dad”. Tom and his wife Terri were married in Flatonia on April 25, 1987. On that day, they were nicknamed “TNT” a moniker that stayed with them through their life together. They made their home in the Mountain City area before returning to Flatonia to begin a new stage of their life together. Tom loved his homes in Aspermont and Flatonia and they reflected his loving and meticulous care. He loved things to be neat, organized, and trimmed (except for his beard). Tom was an extremely generous person who loved creating special gifts for those he cared about and loved. Some of his greatest gifts were just the things he would do for someone instead of the things he gave. His love of the woods and outdoors continued into his adult life. He also enjoyed spoiling his dogs, cooking outside, drinking a beer, gardening, riding his Viking, and stealing bites of ice cream from his grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his father Thomas Francis Hefner Sr, a son Joseph Lee, and a daughter Hope, his sister Delores, and his father-in-law Otto Steinhauser and sister-in-law Susan Steinhauser. He is survived by his heartbroken wife Terri, a son Thomas Van Buren Hefner and his wife Sonya, his mother Maxine Hefner and his grandchildren Chance, Bree, Rhea and her husband Trey Walker, Joseph, Bon, and Beorn. He is also survived  by his mother-in-law, Helen Steinhauser, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Mike and Cathy, Chester and Suki, RJ, Willie and Jamie, and Jeff and Stephanie. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Visitation was held at 5 p.m. Sunday, July 9 at the Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia. Funeral Services were held at the Flatonia Baptist Church on Monday, July 10 at 10 am. Terri will take Tom back to his home in Aspermont for graveside services at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11 at the Aspermont Cemetery where he will be laid to rest beside the father he loved, adored and missed every day. To my husband Tom – I will miss you each and every day. You always made me feel loved and very special. I, like our dogs, was completely spoiled by you. I have loved all our time together and so incredibly sad that I now only have memories. There are so many things I will miss. Your voice, your laugh, your incredible eyes, and your loving care and touch. But what I will miss most is your rich beautiful voice ringing out with “Steinhauser, have I told you today how much I love you?” which was always answered by my “Yes you have.” I love you too Babe. Words of comfort can be expressed online at www.SmithFuneralHomeFlatonia.com.  Smith Funeral Home in Flatonia was in charge of arrangements.