Tommy D. Jarvis, 88, of Higginsville passed away peacefully at Meyer Care Center on March 3, 2026. He was born on March 30, 1937 in Murray, KY, and moved to Old Hickory, TN in December of 1944 which he considered his hometown.
He left school before graduating in 1955 to join the United States Air Force. On a cold Friday night in the Fall of 1956, while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, he and a friend travelled to Higginsville for the Friday night football game because “the cute girls lived in Higginsville”. That’s where he met his wife, Bonnie. They were married for 68 years and had 3 sons.
He went to work for the City of Higginsville in August of 1968 as a Water Plant employee. He earned an Associate Degree in Business from Rockhurst College and retired from the City as Head Water Plant Operator, December 31, 1998.
Tommy and Bonnie loved to travel and have visited all 50 US states as well as nine western European countries. Tommy loved going to car shows and always had a meticulously clean classic car to show, winning several trophies. He also enjoyed going to auctions and had a passion for collecting marbles. If you haven’t seen many marbles in Lafayette County, it’s probably because he had most of them. Tommy was proud of his military service and was a member of the American Legion Post 223 in Higginsville. Tommy was also a member of First Baptist Church of Higginsville.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie (Jordan) Jarvis of the home; sons, Mark “Smoky” Jarvis, Mike and wife Vickie (Beaulieu) Jarvis of Higginsville, Mitch and wife Jill (Young) Jarvis of Shawnee, KS; six grandchildren, Brooke (Jarvis) Stark, Tyler Jarvis, Grady Jarvis; Rick Ganther; Zachary Jarvis, Lauren Jarvis; seven great-grandchildren, Aidan, Blaine and Kendall; Jett; Knoxx, Brixtyn, and Brexleigh; one great-great-granddaughter, Adalynn. Tennessee nieces and nephews, Diane Malone, Tiffany Gower; Patty Page, Kim Freeman, Tamela Campbell, and Bobby Burdette.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Iris (Miles) Jarvis; all of his siblings, Buddy Jarvis, Zella (Jarvis) Malone, Jan (Jarvis) Burdette, and Steve Jarvis; niece and nephews, Debra, Tony, and Bryan.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery located at 20109 Bus. MO-13 Higginsville, Missouri 64037.
Casket bearers: Rick Ganther, Grady Jarvis, Tyler Jarvis, Zachary Jarvis, Aidan Stark, Blaine Stark. Honorary casket bearers: Matt Bieri, Rod Kirchhoff, Dennis Million. Memorial contributions may be sent to First Baptist Church Higginsville, MO 64037 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Stewart-Hoefer Funeral Home and online condolences may be made to the family at www.stewarthoeferfuneralhome.com
Source: KMZU, The Farm
