Thomas Lawson "Rowdy" Peets' Obituary
To view the livestream of Rowdy's service, click here: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/81482
Thomas Lawson "Rowdy" Peets was born November 8, 1942 and died peacefully in his sleep in Mount Juliet, Tennessee on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24, 2022 at age 80. He had many nicknames including Little Tommy, Uncle Little Tommy, Tomm, Lawson, Rowdy, and Grandfather.
As Lawson said “People have been my life and music my love.” Lawson loved his family including his many nieces and nephews. He also was passionate about music and the New Orleans Saints. He was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi and raised in Bayou Country or the New Orleans area.
He attended F.T. Nicholls High School and later received a bachelor’s degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana University. He then moved along to Emory University Candler School of Theology in Atlanta where he earned a Master of Divinity in 1968. He was also a Navy Veteran and served proudly on the U.S.S. James E. Kyes as a deckhand and journalist. Along the way, he married his first wife Shirley Ann Walker, and they had two children Laura and Robert. Later he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and opened Viking Music. There he had numerous friends and found more musical family.
Lawson decided he wanted a warmer climate and moved to Music City USA (Nashville, TN). He went to work at Gibson Guitars where he met Tavara McGuire, his future wife. Lawson was blessed with new children and family including David, Dee, and Dean. Lawson and Tavara were married 31 years.
The couple journeyed to lake life at Lake Norman in Mooresville, NC. They retired to Tennessee and settled in Mt Juliet where they found kind neighbors and more musical buddies for Lawson. Lawson was also an active musician and performer at various independent and assisted living facilities.
Lawson loved his grandchildren (Duncan, Vincent, Gretchen, Chris, Kenny, Jacob, Emily, Miki, Rebecca, and Elizabeth) and great grandchildren (Audric and Genesis).
He is survived by his sister Suellen Peets DeVito. Lawson was preceded in death by: Helen Rebecca Secrest (mother), Thomas Delos Peets Jr (father), Thomas Callia (stepfather) Joseph Secrest (stepfather), David McGuire (stepson), Tommy Alex Callia (brother), Lois Callia Benitez (sister), James R. Peets (brother) and Pamela Peets Cady (sister).
Visitation will take place on Friday, December 2 from 12 PM noon until 2 PM. A Celebration of Rowdy's Life will follow at 2 PM. Burial w/ Navy military honors will occur in the Historic Spring Hill Cemetery.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Guitars 4 Vets, your favorite dog shelter or a charity of your choice.
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