Thomas Lee Teel

Funeral services for Thomas Lee “Pa” Teel, 79, of Sperry, OK, were held Friday, February 3, 2023, at Osage Oaks Church of God in Sperry, OK. Pastor Jerry Harper, Jr. officiated, and burial was in Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, OK. Casket bearers were Simon Teel, Jacob Maggard, Andrew Hutton, Jake Wood, Alek Williams, and Maverick Williams. Honorary Casket bearers were Axel Wood, Blake Wood, Shawn Hall, Byron Laughlin, Atlas Ewton, Ethan Melendrez, Tony Melendrez, Wyatt Williams, and McCoy Williams.

Tom was born December 17, 1943, in Sperry, OK, to Joseph Brown Teel and Cora Ellen (True) Teel. He passed away January 29, 2023, in Sperry, OK.

Tom proudly served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for 2 years. He was an electrician, truck driver and police officer during his working years. He enjoyed riding horses, baling hay, and loved taking care of his grandkids. Tom’s world revolved around his grandkids and great grandkids. Everyone was welcome at his house no matter if he knew you for 30 years or was meeting you for the first time. He was always known as “Pa” or “Uncle Tom” and always had candy, adventures, and plenty of tall tales for his grandkids to enjoy. Pa had a very colorful vocabulary and could teach your kids words that you didn’t even know existed. Pa always gave his grandkids pancakes with grape jelly for breakfast, or biscuits and gravy from Betty’s Country Store. It was a must to have specific clothes to wear at Pa’s house because it was impossible to stay clean from jumping on the hay bales, playing in the pasture, and working cattle. In the summer, Pa always made sure the grandkids had a pool or water troughs to swim in. He once made a 12-foot-tall teepee out of barn tin for the grandkids to play in and even wired it to have electricity; it was also completed with furniture for everyone to play with. All of the grandkids loved Pa’s house because he would never tell them no. Pa always brought his grandkids into the pasture with him to check cattle because they had better eyesight than he did. When no one could see the cow’s number, including Pa, lots of griping could be heard louder than the cows mooing for food.

He is survived by his daughter, Sherrie Williams and husband, Byron of Colorado Springs, CO; son, Tom J. Teel and wife, Jennifer of Sperry; daughter, Beverly Johnson and husband, Avery of Cross Plains, TX; daughter, and Susan Gentry and Shawn Hall of Sperry; as well as Holly Engel of Sperry, Melony Gentry-Birt of Broken Arrow, Harold McLamb of Tuttle, and Angela Ayres of Rogers, AR; grandkids, Erica Hills and husband James, Alek “Tuffy” Williams and wife, Nicandra, Simon “Rowdy” Teel and wife, Sydney, Sarah Drury and husband, Colte, Hannah Johnson, Leah “Jo” Johnson, Brittaney Wood and husband, Jake, Maverick “Gus” Williams, Macy Williams, and Aleah “Shoogy” Williams; great grandkids, Axel “Roper” Wood, Blake “Slick” Wood, Rebecca Gilmore, Alyanna Ewton, Adalae Ewton, Atlas Ewton, Jeremyah Hills, Danyel Hills, Tony Melendez, Ethan Melendez, Wyatt Williams, and McCoy Williams; brother, Donald Teel; sisters, Betty Pollock, and Janis Harvey; and many other relatives and friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Cora Teel; brothers, John Teel, Richard Teel and Jack Teel; sister, JoEllen Teel; and nephew, Jim Teel.

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.