Funeral services for Tommie Raye Woodard, 76, of Alto will be Saturday May 8th, 2021 at 11am at New Hope Baptist Church in Alto. A come and go visitation will be Friday May 7th from 12-5pm at O.T. Allen & Son funeral home. Tommie was born September 20, 1944 in Alto, Texas  to Johnnie Woodard and Arizona Brown. He lived most of his life in Alto and finished high school in 1963. He began working at a young age but his favorite job was working with water. He worked for the city of Alto for many years and retired from Alto Rural Water in 2011. Tommie married Mary Jo  Hackney in 1968 and she had preceded him in death. Tommie enjoyed being around his kids, grandkids and especially his great grandkids. Each one brought him joy in different ways. He was well know in his hometown for his smile and kindness to others. There was always a handshake and laughs for whoever he met. He made many friends during his life and never knew the names of most of them, but that never stopped him from saying "that's my buddy". He left a mark on the people he met and always enjoyed telling a story about his life from back in the day, adding "those were the good old times, something you young people know nothing about."  Tommie Ray was dearly loved and will be sorely missed. He was preceded in death by wife Mary Jo Hackney Woodard, mother Arizona Brown, father Johnnie Woodard, sisters Evelyn Marie Brown and Patsy Ruth Brown and grandkids Daniel Woodard and LaKara Taree Woodard. Tommie is survived by children Tommy Woodard (Heather) of Alto, Norina Woodard (Gerald) of Lufkin, Derrick Woodard (Kristi) of Lufkin and Melissa Griffin (Charles) of Alto, sister Peggy Miller of California, brother Jerry Brown of California, 16 grandkids and 18 great grandkids as well as a host of other relatives and friends. Interment will follow the funeral services at Linwood Cemetery near Alto.

More obituary information will be added soon.