Thomas “Tommy” Archie Kring age 70, of the Coal Hill Community, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 23rd, peacefully in his sleep while on a trucking trip in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Tommy is preceded in death by his parents Archie and Edith Kring, brothers Wayne Kring and Vaughn Humphrey.

Tommy is survived by his sons Tim (Alaina) Kring of Chattanooga and Jeff (Shanda) Kring of Coal Hill, the mother of his children Ellen Kring of Rockwood.

His grandchildren Tia (Jeff) Rogers of Pearl, Mississippi, Gunner (Gaby) Kring of Whidby Island, Washington, Gracelun and Gatlin Kring of Coal Hill, Cheltzie McKinney of Midway, and Ezra Sheldon of Mossy Grove.

Great grandchildren Briley and Barrett Rogers, Colson McKinney, Dryft Sheldon, Penelope Kring.

Siblings Jane (David) Harmon, Hugh (Nexie) Kring, Janice (Dillon) Betts, his sisters-in-law Brenda Kring and Pat Humphry, and his many nephews, nieces, and friends.

Tommy had many accomplishments outside of being an amazing father, son, brother, and friend. He graduated in 1972 from Coalfield School, worked at the Roane Hosiery Mill, the Tennessee Department of Forestry for 16 years, and was an over-the-road truck driver for the last 30 years. He retired in 2019 but could not stay still for too long! He started driving again shortly after retirement and drove for Interstate Ventures until the time of his passing.

Tommy loved spending time with his family and friends, farming, tending to the cows, and gardening. He enjoyed traveling, but in true Tommy fashion, he always wanted to drive! In 2019 he went with his sons and grandson to Alaska making the 9,500 roundtrip miles in a camper. He stopped to see Mt. Rushmore, Glacier National Park, Banff, Jasper National Park, the Yukon, multiple locations in Alaska, Golden Spike in Utah, and the Four Corners National Monument. While in Alaska he hiked and fished for salmon and halibut in the Gulf of Alaska. In 2024 he completed a solo trip to Alaska where he completed the entire Alaska/Canada Highway (the Alcan) from Dawson Creek, Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska.

While Tommy loved to travel, take pictures of wildlife, and stop at casinos along the way his heart was always back home in Kring Hollow and up on Whetbranch. Tommy will be missed greatly by his friends and family as he was generous, loving, kind, put others before himself and had a wonderful sense of humor. It is an honor to celebrate and remember his life and the impact that he had on those around him.

Visitation will be held at Jackson Funeral Home and Cremation, Sunday September 26, 2024, from 5-7 pm. Funeral at 7:00 pm with Pastor Chipper Humphrey officiating

To leave a note for Tommy’s family or to share a memory, please sign our online guestbook at jacksonfuneralservices.com