Tommy Lynn Cleere, 66, of De Leon, passed from this life January 29, 2024, at his home. He was born October 17, 1957, in De Leon, Texas to Otha and Joyce (Sides) Cleere.

Tommy was raised in De Leon and graduated with the De Leon Class of 1976. Tommy was a stellar athlete and still holds the De Leon 100-110 meter high hurdle record. He advanced to the state track meet all four years of his high school career. Tommy was also an integral part of the 1975 De Leon Bearcat State Championship football team. After high school, he attended Howard Payne on a football scholarship and also ran track for the Yellow Jackets. Tommy was a lifelong farmer who raised peanuts, watermelons, and cantaloupes. He loved to garden and raised a bumper crop many years. He was always happy to share his produce with his family and many friends. He also raised cattle and loved tending to his herd. Tommy spent as much time as possible outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting. One of his greatest joys in life was taking his grandsons and nephew to fish and hunt.

Tommy was employed by FMC Technologies/TechnipFMC for the last thirteen years where he was a mechanist and safety supervisor. He loved his work family and the many friendships he built throughout his career. Tommy never met a stranger and always lived by the motto "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right". He possessed a solid work ethic and was a man of his word. He was a loving dad and granddad, a special brother and uncle, and a loyal friend to many. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Tommy has been reunited with his parents, Otha and Joyce Cleere; grandparents, Othah and Beaulah Cleere and Doc and Elzie Sides. He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Cleere-Riley; grandsons, Ashton Stewart, Zayden Parker, and River Riley; brother, Randy Cleere; sister, April (Keith) Terry; nieces, D'lin (Colt) Cagle and Darian (Dakota) Ables; nephew, Brent (Ireland) Cleere; and other extended family.

Graveside funeral services celebrating Tommy's life were held Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in Ebenezer Cemetery with Minister Rowdy Elston officiating. Serving as pallbearers were Brent Cleere, Bryan Preston, Colt Cagle, Jeremy Harris, Gayle Jones, Ernie Escamilla, and Cliff Petitt. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Terry, Ted Hodges, Craig Smith, and Rusty Rogers.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Ebenezer Cemetery (c/o Terrill Casey 2350 CR 450, De Leon) in memory of Tommy.