Paschall "Shorty" Tomsu

Paschall (Shorty) Frederick Tomsu, (89), passed away on July 9, 2024, at the VA-CLC in Amarillo, Texas. He was born on April 25, 1935, in Vernon, Texas, to Cecelia and Ray Tomsu, Sr. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecelia and Ray Tomsu Sr., a daughter Krista Kathleen Tomsu, a granddaughter Alyssa Williams, and a grandson Eli Tomsu.

He is survived by his daughter Jody L. Williams and her two sons, Jeremy and his fiancé Cynthia Hernandez who will have Shorty’s first great-grandson, Jet, in late July and a step great granddaughter Zeyna, and Joey Williams. He also has a brother, Ray Tomsu, Jr. and a sister, Paulette Thomas, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family too numerous to mention. 

Shorty graduated from Kress, Texas, and then he attended TSTI and got certificates in welding, diesel mechanics, and drafting. He worked for King Trailer and Equipment and Pro-Am Truck Stop before moving to Dalhart where he started swathing hay for Hal Phipps, eventually then farming for Melvin Przilas in Dalhart for many years. He left Dalhart in 1996 to be near his daughter in Plains, Kansas. He farmed in Plains, Kansas, for Harold Rickers and Dan Eakes and other Eakes family members until moving to Amarillo for his health. He was a US Army Veteran achieving many awards including the Good Conduct Medal and the Rifle 2nd Class Gunner Sharpshooter Badge. He was a member of the NRA 2nd Amendment Task Force, the American Legion in Plains, Kansas, the Plains, Kansas, Lions Club, and the Plains and Kress Coop. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Plains, Kansas. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Oilers and Texans, the Texas Longhorns, and Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Shorty can be described as an ornery, hardworking, handy, caring, and simple man, but he had a heart as big as Dallas and appreciated the cowboy way. He was a “Mr. Fix It.” He loved fishing and hunting, loved his guns and knives, loved collecting anything John Deere, along with dancing, drinking beer, reading Westerns, and going to the Daylight Donuts in Plains, Kansas, and drinking coffee with his friends. He also enjoyed watching crime shows, collecting ball caps, and going to the lake and camping. 

Shorty was quite a character and will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

His daughter and her sons would like to give a big Thank You to the Amarillo VA-CLC for showing her dad and their grandpa the utmost love, care, and respect during his stay in their facility. May God bless all of you!