Thursday - 4/21
ST. LUKE’S
Up at the front of the altar was the casket, which stood next to a large picture of Tommy from when he was a young man. Father Louis walked to the front of the church.
LOUIS: Good morning. We are gathered today to say farewell to our dear brother in Christ, Thomas Horton, Jr., known to his family and friends as Tommy. Father of Sandy and Adelaide “Addie” Horton II. He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Alice Horton, his first wife, Kitty, second wife, Helen, and his brother, Mickey, and his twin sister, Addie, and has now joined them in the eternal afterlife. Please stand.
The congregation rose for a
hymn. When they had finished, they sat down, and Eric walked up to the pulpit.
ERIC: A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. St. Paul writes, “We would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”. The Word of the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Thanks be to God.
Eric sat down. Father Louis walked to the pulpit. He read a Gospel reading, and when he had finished, he walked over to the coffin.
LOUIS: I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Tommy many times over the last few years. He was a man of great faith, a loving father, grandfather, brother, and a wonderful member of the community. At this time, if any of his family or friends wishes to say a few words, they are welcome to.
Father Louis sat down. Several people came up to speak about Tommy, and though there were many more than what is written here, here is a sampling of what some of them said.
BILL: Tommy was the oldest of us five kids. I looked up to him, as any boy would look up to his older brother. Though we drifted apart for some time, the last few years we spent reconnecting, getting to know each other…they were some of the best years of my life. As I’m sure most of you are aware, Tom Horton is a big name to wear. There were times in more recent years when I would look at my brother’s face, and I swear I could see our father. Tommy wore his name with honor. If any man was deserving of being named after our father, it was Tommy.
MARIE: The relationship Tommy and I had, it went beyond a normal brother/sister relationship. We understood each other on a deeper level. Oh, it wasn’t always like that. But I am so thrilled that it became like that. He was one person I knew I could always come to if I needed anything.
Sandy took a deep breath.
SANDY: I spent far too long being stubborn, blaming my father for something that I knew in my heart wasn’t ever his fault. I can’t explain why, but there it is. And though I’m sure I frustrated him at times, when I finally came to my senses, he welcomed me with open arms. That’s the kind of man my father was. No matter what went on between us, he had nothing but love in his heart.
She turned to the coffin.
SANDY: I love you, Dad. I’m sorry I didn’t say it enough.
ADDIE: Everything I know about medicine, I learned from him. How many people get to know their parents on both a personal and professional level? I’ll always treasure the time we spent together, both in and out of the medical field.
SCOTTY: Uncle Tommy is part of the reason I came back to Salem. We didn’t see each other much when I was growing up, but when I got a fellowship under him, I was thrilled. Getting to spend that kind of time together, it was the greatest!
KAYLA: From reading the Christmas story to patients, to being our head of surgery, Tommy was known to everyone at University Hospital. He wasn’t just a colleague, he was a friend. A calming presence even at the most chaotic of times. He loved sharing his experiences with the younger doctors, and was always willing to lend a hand, or an ear, to anyone at the hospital who needed it.
LILY; I don’t know if I can really put into words how much spending the last few years with Grandpa meant to me. He was always in my corner, always knew how to make me smile when I’d had a bad day. And he gave the best hugs. Grandpa had a real warmth. He was the most amazing man I’ve ever known.
These and several more people had come up to speak. When everyone had had their turn, Father Louis stood.
LOUIS: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, into Your hands we commend our brother, Tommy Horton. We ask that You watch over his family and comfort them during this time of grief. Though we here on earth are saddened by his passing, we know that he has found peace in Your loving embrace. Please bless and keep us all, giving us comfort in the fact that we will see him again when we, too, join You in our heavenly home. In Your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
The congregation said the Lord’s Prayer, then sang another
hymn. As they sang, the casket was taken out of the church, and the congregation followed it to the cemetery. Lily, Sandy, Addie, Bill and Marie each put a flower on the casket. Lily’s was a white lily. Sandy and Addie each placed a white rose, while Bill and Marie put on a red rose.
BILL (quietly): Goodbye, Tommy.
MARIE (quietly): Till we meet again.
In Loving Memory ofJohn Lupton(Days of Our Lives’ Tommy Horton)August 23, 1928 - November 3, 1993
and Mitchell Ryan(The Melaswen Paradox’s Tommy Horton)January 11, 1934 - March 4, 2022
