I just saw on another site that Tom lost his battle with cancer !! Nice guy, great bowyer and a fun guy to talk to. May he Rest In Peace .....
He was a nice guy, a good musician, and made some nice bows. :archer2:
My thoughts and prayers for the Parson family :pray:
Many years ago when I was transitioning from wheels to stickbows, I met Tom at a shoot in Michigan. We ended up shooting the range together and he spent a lot of time helping me with my shooting, my form in particular. The next summer he looked me up at Cloverdale to ask me how things were going. We went to the practice range where we spent a few hours. He had changed over to shooting left handed due to a shoulder injury and as I am a lefty, he felt I could help him out! LOL!! Tom finished in the top 3 and he may well have won his class!
That's the kind of man Tom was was though. Always willing to help a guy out and take his time with a greenhorn. Over the years we would visit at different traditional events and talk bows, family and faith. Great man who will be missed by many...RIP brother
RIP. Prayers to family and loved ones. He did build a fine bow.
One of the good guys. We are losing this generation of traditional bowhunters too quickly. I'll miss visiting with Tom at Compton and the other shoots. He was a good ole boy with LOTS of wisdom to share. He had a great heart. I'll never forget his story of the bear guide in Canada and the "Whiiisssskkkkeeeyyyy!".
RIP Tom.
R
Tom was a friend. I hadn't kept in close contact lately. He had so many, many health challenges and surgeries. He just seemed to keep going no matter what. When I didn't get a Christmas card from him this year I felt that something was off, but I didn't know he was so ill. I feel terrible for not knowing.
RIP!!!
Bisch
Tom was a great guy, and a gentleman. He was a great Sponsor of Tradgang as well. He sold many bows here as he worked the Sponsors Classifieds regularly.
He was a gem to talk to on the phone and in camp. I will miss him.
God speed Tom. :campfire:
Man thats sad to hear. I live 30 minutes from Tom, and had been meaning to get up there for a while but with COVID, work and a newborn in the house, just haven't had much of a chance. I think the last I stopped by was in June or July when I bought an Asbell jacket and some other small odds and ends; I usually brought a bow along to shoot a few into his hay bales behind the shop with him if he was up to it. He was always fun talking to and never hesitated to help me with my shooting.
Sad news. Did not know him well but when we did talk seemed like a great guy. Prayers to his family
I once drug a hog out of a swamp for Tom many many years ago when I ran into him by accident deep in the woods. He gave me a wool hunting shirt for helping him out. He would not take "no thanks, not necessary" for an answer. That night around the fire was my first taste of tang with whiskey. Great memories. Tom will be missed.
Tom was a friend. He was one of those rare individuals that you may meet once in a lifetime. We had some good times shooting together and singing together. I will miss him.
Only met him once, at ATAR in West Virginia. He was a vendor there, and impressed me greatly as an honest and sincere man. Sorry to see such as Tom leave us behind. Hard to fill a gap like that.
Impossible, really.
:pray: :pray:
Prayers to all affected by Mr. Parsons passing.
He was an excellent bowyer with years of experience, especially with longbows. Had he trained anyone (family, friend) to carry on his legacy?
I of course feel bad for loved ones left behind, but I always think of all the knowledge and experience that people take with them when they leave this life.
TTT
Tom was a wonderful guy. I got to know him well at Cloverdale when he was traveling with GFred.
Thoughts and Prayers to family and loved ones.
Thomas "TP" Clifford Parsons, Jr., 77, of Charlotte Hall, MD passed peacefully on Saturday, December 26th, 2020, after a long fight with cancer. He was born February 5th, 1943 in Washington D.C. to the late Thomas C. Parsons, Sr. and Donna Vee Conyers. He was one of six (6) children.
Tom proudly enlisted in the US Army in March, 1960. He served his country and family proudly and was honorably discharged March, 1963. Tom returned home and met his best friend and love of his life, Dorothy E. Salmon Parsons. They were married on May 21st, 1966. They shared 54 joyful years together.
T om was a hard-working, passionate man. He worked tirelessly as the owner of Aquarius Printing. In retirement he added his next love, archery. To Tom is wasn't a job, it was his passion. He enjoyed archery and became a master-craftsman that made both bows and historical longbows. Tom was a lifetime member of the Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland, Pope and Young, PBS and Compton Bowhunters. Tom, also was a musician, and could be found strumming on his guitar and singing to anyone that would listen. He often performed in the 1st Baptist Church of Laplata, some hospice events, and at the Rite Notes guitar store in Charlotte Hall. Tom was a man of many talents but what he truly loved was the Lord, he spent hours every day studying his bible, and spending time with his family. They say the true legacy of man is through the eyes of his family and that legacy will shine through the generations.
Tom is survived by his wife, Dorothy E. Parsons of Charlotte Hall, MD, his son, Michael Shane Parsons of Charlotte Hall, MD, his daughter, Kimberly Ann (Tim) Williams of Ruther Glen, VA, his brother William K. Parsons (Brenda) of Strausburg, VA, his sisters, Ginger Wood (Bruce) of Gordinsville, VA, Beverly Sams (Dewey) of Cross Junction, VA, Linda Johnson (Merle) of Tavares, FL, and Mary Freeman (Gregg) of Woodstock, GA, and their four (4) grandchildren, Jacob, Gabrielle, Josephine and Logan. Tom is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Clifford Parson, Sr. and Donna Vee Miles, and his sister Robin Parsons.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to any of Tom's favorite charities: St Jude's Children's Hospital, Wounded Warriors, and Bolder Crest Retreat.
I remember driving to his place to get my first new trad bow. Shooting those bales behind his shop will be one of my fondest memories. By then he was shooting left handed but right eye dominant. He was deadly. Years prior he had sent me two 35mm camera pics of bows he'd built. I still have those pics hanging.
I just got into traditional archery and being from Maryland as well, have heard a lot of good things on the local forums about Tom lately. I just wish I would've had the chance to meet him and check out his shop before he passed. Rest in peace, and prayers and condolences to his friends and family.
Was fortunate to spend some campfire time over the years with Tom and he was always smiling, always engaged, positive, interesting, and fun. As Ryan said earlier, we are losing a generation of great guys and Tom was definitely one of the best.
Quote from: LCJ-CSA on January 08, 2021, 08:03:50 PM
I once drug a hog out of a swamp for Tom many many years ago when I ran into him by accident deep in the woods. He gave me a wool hunting shirt for helping him out. He would not take "no thanks, not necessary" for an answer. That night around the fire was my first taste of tang with whiskey. Great memories. Tom will be missed.
Great story and testimony !
Not to be too repetitive, but does anyone know if family or a friend is continuing with his bow and archery business? He made some nice bows!
Great stuff
I was fortunate to be invited to shoot with him and his friend Johnny Buck at Baltimore a few years ago. What an interesting man he was.
Quote from: Sant-Ravenhill on February 03, 2021, 05:28:34 PM
Not to be too repetitive, but does anyone know if family or a friend is continuing with his bow and archery business? He made some nice bows!
Doesn't look like it. I called a few weeks before he passed and got a recording and not Tom's voice. Said they were not taking any new orders just selling current inventory.
Thanks T Sunstone!
Sorry to hear all that bow building knowledge and expertise is gone. I have wished that I could Matrix download all the information that is so hard earned throughout some ones life so that it could continue to bless later generations.