Tommie Baxter Fodge || Obituary

Tommie Baxter Fodge of Novice joined her beloved husband on December 17, 2024.

Tommie was born March 4, 1933, to Virginia Brown Baxter and Tommie E. Baxter in Red River County.  She was 91 years old.  Funeral services will be at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM with Dr. Duane Falk officiating.  Interment will follow at Springhill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 6-8 PM.

At an early age, she was encouraged to get an education.  She graduated from Paris High School in 1949, PJC in 1951, and E T A& M Commerce in 1953.  She taught music at Union Grove in Upshur County and Talco.  She came to Paris to teach music at J. G. Wooten, then, Rosa Pearson, Graham, and on to Justiss Elementary where she retired in 1992 with 40 years of splendid bliss.

She and her husband, Jimmy, married June 8, 1958, at Calvary United Methodist Church where she was music director.  They were married 62 years.  In earlier years, they enjoyed showing dogs.  They operated a dog Kennel since 1967 and the last 49 years, she was a USDA licensed dog breeder.

She is survived by two sons, Larry Fodge and Rhonda of the home, Kelly Fodge and wife, Ann of Paris.  She has 3 grandchildren, Jeremy Fodge and wife, Magan, Dustin Fodge and wife, Brooke, all from Paris, Texas.  Cheyenne Fodge White and husband, Cory of Glenpool, Oklahoma.  Ten great grandchildren, Makennah, Aubree, Adilyn, Kynder, Evan, Paizley, Xayden, Tucker, Collin, and Sarah.

“Music alone shall live” was her motto.  Hopefully, she was a great teacher to hundreds of children she loved.  She tried to encourage them to always do their best in whatever they desired.

She was a Baptist and member of Novice Baptist Church, Texas Teacher Retirement, Delta Kappa Gamma, and The Teacher of the Year for Justiss Elementary in 1987-1988.

Memorials may be sent to Novice Vol. Fire Department, c/o Cathy Stokes, 14474, FR 906, Paris, Texas 75462 or Springhill Cemetery Assn, c/o Sharon Hindman, 2823 CR 43250, Paris, Texas 75462.

Pallbearers are Jeremy Fodge, Dustin Fodge, Cory White, Evan Fodge, Butch Milford, and Rick Easterwood.

Honorary Pallbearers are Benton Moss, Harlan Brown, Hugh Jones, Lee Cross, Allen Cross, Tucker McAllister, and Stephen “Red” Holmes.

Online condolences may be sent to the Fodge family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com