Tom Marsh Hastings

November 10, 1939 - January 3, 2021

Tom Marsh Hastings, 81, of Valley View, TX, joined his Savior on Sunday, January 3, 2021. Tom was born November 10, 1939 in Dallas, TX to William Roy and Beulah Mae (Marsh) Hastings. Tom married Susan Nichols on February 10, 1977 in Denton, TX. He succumbed to COVID-19, although he suffered breathing difficulty for several years. Tommy loved God, his family, life, and people, and managed to make even the most mundane situations fun. He had volumes of jokes and stories which he loved to repeat. Larger than life, he was a Cowboy to the core and loved any excuse to herd and brand cattle, ride cutting horses, and spend time with his many friends that shared those interests. He never met a stranger. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in Dallas, Tarleton State Junior College, and Texas A&M, where he lived in the horse barn and was a yell leader. He was a proud Aggie for life. Professionally he was a real estate broker specializing in farms and ranches but would have preferred living on a ranch with lots of his poker buddies close by. He was blessed with wonderful cutting horses: Alices Rey Jay, Ollie Rey, Ollie Tom, Ollies Jeannie, and Little KoKo Telesis who was given to him in his later years by a wonderful friend. He was an accomplished rider and showman, attaining the NCHA Non-Pro Reserve World Championship twice and the NCHA Non-Pro Top Ten many times. He continued to show cutting horses into his 80’s. He was a judge for hundreds of cuttings and horseshows for the NCHA, AQHA, APHA, and Appaloosas. He especially enjoyed being a mentor and teaching new cutters. Tommy was a proud member of the Non-Pro National Cutting Horse Hall of Fame since 1981. Tommy and his wife Susan were blessed to have 45 years together. He will also be deeply missed by his brother Bill Hastings; stepsons, Dr. Robert Jason Pavelka, J. DuVal West III, and Michael F. West; grandchildren, Madison Pavelka, Olivia Pavelka, Brody Pavelka, J. DuVal West IV, and Kody West; and a nephew Ian Roy Hastings. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sarah, and parents, Roy and Swampy Hastings. The family will receive friends during a visitation at 10:00AM, Saturday, January 16, 2021 at First Rock Fellowship in Aubrey, TX with a funeral service following at 11:00AM officiated by Larry Reynolds. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, TX. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made in Tom's memory to the National Cutting Horse Association Foundation. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.