July 9, 2020
THOMAS DEAN
HAMES
Thomas Dean Hames age 83 of Pedro, Florida passed away on Monday, June 22, 2020 at his residence. He was the seventh child of Winters Baker Hames Sr. and Mary Eleanor Abshier Hames. His twin brother, Alfred Eugene “Gene” Hames was born 2 minutes before him. They were born at the family home on 6th Street now known as Mimosa Road in Belleview. The street name was changed many years ago to reflect all the beautiful Mimosa Trees planted by the Hames Family. The house they were born in, is still standing and family members continue to live there.
Dean was born and raised in Belleview. He married Elizabeth Inez Oliver on July 3, 1959 and they eventually moved to Pedro where he continued to live the rest of his life. They had four sons, twins James Aaron Hames & Joseph Daron Hames, Thomas Milton Hames and Michael Garland Hames. He worked at Pillans & Smith; which was a local grocery wholesale company in Ocala, Florida for over 50 years. After retiring from there; he went to work for Walmart for several years. Family was very important to Dean. He loved spending time with and going on trips with his wife, sons, daughters in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He coached his boys in baseball when they were young and was at every event possible from baseball, softball to horseback riding etc. for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Inez. His sons Aaron & his former wife Mary; Tommy & his wife Donna; Michael & his wife Suzie. His Grandchildren Shelly Hames, Wesley Hames & his wife Naticha and Tyler Hames (Children of Aaron & Mary); Adam Hames and Alex Hames (Children of Daron); Amanda Hames Nowlin & her husband Casey, Cory Hames & his wife Carsen, Joshua Hames & his wife Sara (Children of Tommy & Donna); Logan Hames Davis & her husband Garrett and Lindsey Hames Guinn & her husband Kevin (Children of Michael & Suzie). Great Grandchildren Elias, Lincoln & Hudson (Children of Amanda & Casey Nowlin) and Maddox (Son of Wesley & Naticha Hames). His brothers Donald Hames, Gene Hames & his wife Phyllis, Peek Hames & his wife Linda and his sister Mary Ann Hames McIntyre. Dean was predeceased by his son Daron Hames, his parents Winters & Eleanor Hames, his brothers Winters Hames Jr., Milton Hames, Frank Hames and his sister Violet Hames Law.
Dean and his twin Gene have always been very close. They look so much alike as children that people would call them DeanGene or GeneDean when they saw both or either one of them. They spent their childhood running around Belleview and most times their baby sister by two years (Mary Ann) was with them. It has been said they are lucky to be alive from all the things they got into, including climbing down into The Eichelberger Cave located near present day County Road 467, just outside of Belleview. As adults, they would wonder how they did that; as the caves had water, snakes and who knows what else. These weren’t the caves like you see on TV where you just walk in – they were underground and you had to crawl in and out of them.
Dean’s Memorial Service was held on Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Gracepointe Church in Summerfield, Florida. Some of the memories shared included his love for a trip and that he was known to jump in the car with his son to take his granddaughter back to college, even if it was 4 hours each way. He always had a little change in his pockets to give to the grandchildren when they asked for it. Then his love of Ice Cream and the fact that several weeks ago, he walked quite a ways to his son Michael’s house to see if they had any Ice Cream because he wanted some. We will all miss his beaming smile at every family gathering, and none of us can forget his love of coffee or his endearing catchphrase “Yawaa Baby”, which we can still hear him saying!!!
Dean was Blessed to have been raised in a Christian Home by a Godly Mother that made sure he was always in Sunday School, Church and Baptist Training Union on Sundays. As a child he attended Belleview First Baptist Church and was very active in the youth department. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at a young age and continued to live his life for Jesus; giving us the assurance that he is now in Heaven with His Lord and Savior.