Thomas Melvin Hight, Sr.

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Thomas Melvin “Tommy” Hight, Sr., 87, well-known local insurance agent for Shelter Insurance Company died Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, July 27, 2024 at 11:00 AM at South Gate Church of Christ with John Thomas, Ashley Brown, and Charles Kirkland. Burial will follow in The Arbors at Polk Memorial Gardens with Joe Macer officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday, July 26, 2024 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at South Gate Church of Christ.

Memorials may be made to Columbia Academy 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Tommy, Sr. was born on February 10, 1937 in Maury County, Tennessee to the late Melvin B. Hight, Jr. and the late Elizabeth Jane Sharp Hight. He graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1955 and continued at Middle Tennessee State University for four years. He started in sales early; as a young child he had a sales route in Riverside selling ice cream for Jersey Pride Creamery, after college he sold life insurance on a debit route in Huntsville, Alabama. He moved back to Columbia and in 1961 sold clothing several years with John Church at Church’s Clothing, then sold clothes at Pigg and Parsons. In June of 1967 he was hired by MFA Insurance Company, which is now Shelter Insurance Company. His career with Shelter Insurance expanded over 55 years. Tommy, Sr. achieved countless district, state and company awards including the prestigious company Agent of the Year Award in 1981. He always felt that his biggest achievement besides his family was his cherished relationships with his customers, Shelter Insurance Agents, Shelter Management, Shelter employees and friends. The Shelter agency continues serving the community today by his son Tommy Hight, Jr. and grandson Blake.

He was a lifetime University of Tennessee football fan, attending games for decades. In his early years he would often hitchhike all the way to Knoxville and back to the UT football games. His life was dedicated to working, helping his customers, golfing, duck hunting. For over 50 years he could be found many weekends fishing on Woods Reservoir and enjoying relaxing at his lake house. He enjoyed spending time with his two grandsons. He was often out with Blake looking for their next adventure or sitting on a bleacher watching Mathis playing ball. He was affectionally known by his grandsons as PeePaw. In his later years he enjoyed attending worship services.

Survivors include his son and daughter in law, Thomas M. “Tommy” Hight, Jr. and Jadonna Roland Hight; grandsons, Thomas Blake Hight and Mathis Jadon Hight; and several cousins; and a lifelong friend, Joseph Shyes.

Active pallbearers will be Charles Kirkland, Richard Wagster, Ken Cathey, Tommy Ervin, Ty Cobb and Jonathan Hickerson. Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph Shyes, Hueston Marshall, Ron Sharp, Wade Matheny, Russ Parkes, Bobby Lovell, Eddie Campbell, Charlie Ingram, Harvey Church, Gary Hendley, Robert Roberts, David Jeffs, Roger Karns, Ashley Brown, John Totty, Jewell Sanders, Larry Dooley, Johnny Brooks, Scottie Williams, David Taylor, and past and present Shelter Insurance Agents, Management, Employees and customers and 1955 class of Columbia Central high School.

Special thanks to his caregivers, Kay Lott and Judy Moncrief for their exceptional care for the last two and a half years and NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care.