James 'Tom' Head
COLUMBIA — James Thomas Head died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at his home. He was 64.
Mr. Head was born July 17, 1946, in Columbia to James Gardner and Gussie Marie (Calvert) Head.
He married Mary Kay Herman on March 16, 1972.
As the baby of the family, Mr. Head was the typical rascally little brother, said his sister Carolyn Webb, who was visiting Columbia for the services.
As children, Mr. Head's sisters played a trick on him to get him back for his behavior.
“He was always annoying, as little brothers tend to be, and we put him in a box and put him out with the garbage,” Webb said.
Luckily, their mother found him before anything could happen.
“We all got a paddling for that,” she said. “He was a good brother. We’re going to miss him.”
Mr. Head served in the Navy from 1963 to 1967 as a firefighter. He then worked in construction until 1970, when he joined the Columbia Fire Department. He served with the department for 25 years.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Kay; a son, Jim and wife, Raelene; a daughter, Barbara; two sisters, Carolyn Webb and her husband, Purn, of Paducah, Ky., and Sandy Montgomery and her husband, Bill, of Columbia; two grandchildren, Kaitlin and Logan; and several aunts, nieces, nephews and in-laws.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 Locust St., beginning with a prayer service. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 Locust St., Columbia, MO 65201-5035.
Tributes can be posted at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
