6/26 Life Story

Floyd could make music from anything

PNT Correspondent

Thomas J. “T. J.” Floyd Jr. was more than an entertainer to those who knew him. He was accustomed to breaking the silence in the lives of others through his tangible relationship with music.

According to family members, he could get music out of anything whether it was from an instrument or the heart of a person.

Thomas J. “T.J.” Floyd Jr. died June 9, 2005, in his home, of cancer.

Linda Miller Brown, a bass player who played along side T. J on many occasions, said, “T.J. was someone whom you would want to emulate your own life after in every way.”

Brown met T.J. during one of his shows at the age of nine. When she was older, she began played along side T.J. at jamborees when an opportunity presented itself.

“He was my hero,” she said. “When I first met him I was young and he was larger than life in his music. I wanted to play music just like him, a lot of kids did. He stood out when he played,” she said. “He had his own style and a facial expression for every note that he played, which made it apparent how much he enjoyed playing,” Brown said.

He was born on May 26, 1934, in Del Rio, Texas, to Thomas J. and Josephine Stewart Floyd. He married his Bride, Nancy Woodhouse, on May 29, 1955. They began dating in junior high. J.T. tied an engagement ring around the neck of a stuffed panda bear when he proposed to Nancy.

The couple, which had three children, recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary. He worked for the ATSF Railroad for 37 years traveling around New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma. He retired in 1992. He was also an ensign in the Raton National Guard.

According to family and friends, his greatest love was life, music and people but his talent was music. He performed as a lead guitarist for the Floyd Country Jamboree, cowboy church and the Kingswood Methodist Church. He gave his time playing at several retirement homes, at Baxter Hall and numerous other jam sessions.

T.J. grew up in a family that used music as their main source of entertainment. According to Nancy Floyd, T.J. began playing the guitar at the age of nine.

“He led many people in music,” Nancy said. “He was like a magnet when it came to drawing people and he had a way of telling them they could do something another way without stepping on their toes. He was very enlightening,” she said.

Dave Nash, a good friend of T.J.’s, said that T.J. was a beautiful musician who was supportive of anyone beginning their career in music.

“He had such an awesome touch,” Nash said. “He took time out of his schedule for people. He helped them learn what he loved. He was encouraging, uplifting, jovial and a solid Christian man that lived his whole life that way. I loved him.

“He was a super guy.”

Bio

Name: Thomas J. “T.J.” Floyd Jr.

Born: May 26, 1934

Died: Thursday, June 9, 2005

Preceded in death by: his mother; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ida and Chuck Woodhouse; and a great-grandson, Lorance Morris.

Survived by: his wife; a daughter, Denise Morris (and husband, Hoyt) of Clovis; two sons, Dwayne Floyd of Clovis and Darrin Floyd of Clovis; his father, Thomas J. Floyd of Pecos; a sister, Barbara “Jody” Miller (Jerry-Bob) of Pecos; a brother, Wayne Floyd (Elaine) of Springer; a sister-in-law, Beverly Redd (Chuck) of Clovis; six grandchildren, Bryon Morris (Bev), Alesha Isaacs (Corey), Beth Bruns (Billy), Marcus Morris, Carissa Floyd, and Brandon Floyd; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.