Obituaries

Thomas "Tommy" Wayne Ricketts

Photo of Thomas "Tommy" Wayne Ricketts
Thomas "Tommy" Wayne Ricketts, 68, of Bentonville, passed away Nov. 20, 2015 from lung cancer. He was born April 1, 1947, the fifth of six children born to Lynn "Chicken" Franklin Ricketts and Virginia "Ginny" Girard (Gardner) Ricketts of Bentonville. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents and eldest brother, David Ricketts. Survivors include his daughter, Angela Danielle (Ricketts) Hackett and husband, Kevin of Jacket, Mo.; a brother, Harvey Ricketts and wife, Donna of Bentonville; three sisters: Barbara Gailey and husband, Bill of Bentonville, Ginger Patterson and husband, Gerald of Pea Ridge, Dyan Venable and husband, Steve of Germantown, Tenn.; four grandchildren: Cheyenne (Blevins-Hackett) Wallace and husband, Tyler, Matthew (Rian), Micheal, and Martin Hackett; two great-granddaughters, Piper Grace Hackett and Harper Rae Wallace; and several nieces, nephews and by a host of friends. Tommy was a 1966 graduate of Bentonville High School. He served in Vietnam in the US Marine Corp with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Corp 1966-68, earning many medals and ribbons including two Bronze Stars and Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry associated with combat counter-insurgency in Operations Buffalo, Hickory II, King Fisher and Kentucky from Nov. 1966-Dec. 1967. Upon his return to the states, he married and divorced Marsha Ann Baker of Macon County, Mo. and settled in the NW AR/SW MO region for the remainder of his life. He enjoyed the quiet life that farming provided; camping and gardening were his favorite past times. His family would like to welcome all of his friends for his Visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and a Celebration of Tommy's life at 11 a.m. this Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville. A private burial will be in Fayetteville National Cemetery. Tommy's family would also like to thank the staff of Concordia and Circle of Life Hospice, especially Nurse Kathy, for their excellent and compassionate care. Memorials may be sent in Tommy's honor to the Fayetteville National Cemetery at http://RNCIC.com, the DAV #53 of Bentonville, Ark., Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., or Circle of Life Hospice, Bentonville, Ark. Arrangements are under the care of Callison-Lough Funeral Home of Bentonville. www.CallisonLough.com.

Published November 22, 2015

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