Thomas Barron Burchfield, 82, of Bay City passed away Friday, May 24, 2013. He was born on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1931 in Corrigan, TX to the late Thomas Layton & Faye Thompson Burchfield. The family moved to Bay City, TX in January of 1940. Tom attended public schools, graduating from Bay City High School in 1948. He enrolled in Sam Houston State University, where he stayed for the next two years. In January of 1951 he joined the U. S. Air Force. The next six years were spent in the Air Force and the oil field. After that, he returned to college and received a BBA degree in August of 1958. He received a Masters of Education degree in 1968. Tom was in the field of education for 42 years, serving as a teacher, English Supervisor, Assistant Principal, Attendance Officer, and Principal. On August 2, 1957, Tom married Vivian Carolyn Conner in Trinity, TX. On September 1, 1958, a daughter, Lynda, was born. His wife preceded Tom in death in July of 2000; they had been married 43 years.

He is survived by daughter: Lynda Ketron & husband Jim; 4 grandchildren: Allison Bundick & husband David of Bay City, Joseph Knight & wife Stacy, Nicholas Stroup & wife Dominique, and Lindsay Knight & (Scott Terzo) all of Lafayette, LA; 7 great grandchildren: Vivian Bundick, Bella Knight, Kieran Stroup, Leo, Luke, & Logan Garza, and Ireland Knight, and sister Betty Cox and her husband Dub.

The family will receive visitors from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, May 26, 2013. The funeral service will be 10:00 AM Monday, May 27, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church of Bay City with Rev. Jeff Gantz & Rev. John Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City. Pallbearers will be Jim Ketron, David Bundick, Joseph Knight, Nicholas Stroup, W. L. Cox, and Lee Cox. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Scott Terzo, Clint Burchfield, George Durett, Larry George, and Jack Higgins.

The family would like to thank Houston Hospice and Pat Matthis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.