Tommy Jean Riden Beights Atchison

It is with deep love and gratitude for a life well lived that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Tommy Jean Riden Beights Atchison. She went home to be with our Lord on April 3, 2026, at the age of 96. Her family, whom she loved dearly, along with her faith in Jesus Christ, her church, and her many friends, were the foundation of her life. Her kind and loving heart, infectious spirit, wonderful sense of humor, and genuine love for people were an inspiration to her family and community.

Tommy was born on March 19, 1930, at home in Mitchell County, near Loraine, Texas. She was the fourth daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Hattie Pearl Riden. She felt honored to be named after her father and treasured the time she spent with him, often accompanying him on horseback as he worked. She graduated from Loraine High School in 1947, where she was active in basketball, volleyball, softball, and tennis, and starred as the lead in her senior class play. She also enjoyed playing the piano and saxophone.

In 1947, she married Cletus Beights, and they moved to Midland, Texas, where he became a Methodist minister. Together, they helped establish St. Paul United Methodist Church, which grew to more than 900 members in just seven years—an accomplishment they both cherished. Tommy loved connecting with people and could strike up a conversation everywhere she went. She formed lasting friendships and lived her life without judgment, setting a beautiful example for others. She was also known for telling each of her three sons-in-law—individually—that HE was her favorite.

While raising four children, managing a household, teaching full-time, and serving her church, Tommy returned to college. In 1969, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, followed by a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from East Texas State University in Commerce. She went on to teach fifth grade for 25 years in Midland, Texas; Fullerton, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Richardson, Texas—a career she truly loved.

Her faith remained central throughout her life. She taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, and supported youth ministries in every church she served. While living in California, she even took a youth group to attend a taping of Truth or Consequences hosted by Bob Barker, where she was delighted to be chosen as a contestant—no doubt helped by the enthusiastic cheers of her group.
Later in life, while involved in a singles class at church, she met Charles Atchison, whom she married in 1990. Together, they spent eleven years traveling the United States in their RV, fulfilling her goal of visiting all fifty state capitols. Her adventurous spirit extended internationally as well—she organized and led sixteen trips to Europe and six to Australia. Her daughter-in-law, Linda Beights, shared her love of adventure and even named her RV “The Tommy Jean” in her honor.

One of Tommy’s greatest joys was playing games of all kinds. She often said she must have been born with “games on her mind.” Even at 96, she delighted in playing card games with her great-grandchildren, making it a cherished tradition.

Her grandchildren remember their Nanny as a woman of selfless joy—a steady light in their lives. She was loving, loyal, and deeply family-oriented, always putting others before herself. She had a remarkable gift for connecting with people, welcoming everyone with warmth and ensuring no one felt left out. Playful and spirited, she had a mischievous sense of humor—famously giving unexpected gifts or creating scavenger hunts at Christmas, turning simple moments into lasting memories. She was quietly capable and remarkably independent, managing her life with thrift, wisdom, and strength. Adventurous, resilient, and even a bit competitive, she lived life fully and on her own terms. Above all, she was a woman of truth and light, whose joy radiated from within and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Atchison; her parents, Thomas and Hattie Riden; and her three sisters, Chrystene Hall, Iris Preston, and Frances Reiter.

She is survived by her four children: Carolyn Garrett and husband Ray; Sherilyn Selz and husband Mark; Marilyn Pace and husband John; and Gaylon and Angela Beights; as well as her two stepdaughters, Christi Atchison and Connie Nelson and husband Brian. She also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.

When Tommy needed exceptional care, she received it at the highest level through Carol Gaines, whose compassion and devotion were a true blessing. Carol made each day better, and Tommy loved her dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 4, 2026 at 3:00, at First United Methodist Church, 503 Central Expressway Service Road Richardson, Texas.