James Thomas Turman, age 66, passed away March 15, 2022. A visitation is set up at 5:00 PM at North's Funeral Home on March 19, 2022, in Abilene, TX. The funeral service will be held on March 20, 2022, also at North's Funeral Home, 242 Orange St, Abilene, TX 79601 at 3:00 PM with uncle Layton Black, minister officiating. He was born on February 17, 1956, in San Antonio, TX. He was adopted shortly after by Jane and Jack Turman of Austin, TX. He was the first of two boys to be adopted by Jane and Jack. His brother, Richard "Dick" Turman was adopted 2 years after. Growing up, Tom attended elementary school at Highland Park, then Junior High at McCallum and the new Murchison Jr High in Northwest Hills. In high school he graduated from Anderson High School in 1975. He was an avid athlete that enjoyed all sports and really excelled in football. For track & field, he actually made own poles of bamboo and then wrapped them in duct tape, He really was creative and a good pole vaulter. After graduation, Tom attended Abilene Christian University where he played football and studied business. Tom was always so proud that he played football with and against the likes of Grant Feasel at ACU. Grant was an offensive lineman, Tom was a linebacker. He said during some practices he would give Grant fits! I don't doubt him, his eyes would light up and his face would shine as he spoke. He worked as a bartender and found a passion for motorcycles. No one was cooler to him than a dude that has a Harley. And this passion continued the rest of his life. His move to Abilene, TX would prove to be permanent. His brother, Dick, soon followed him to Abilene where the two would go on to meet their wives and start families. Tom worked as a police officer for Hardin Simmons and then moved to a long career in Truck Driving for Conway Freight. Tom married Norma Lee Moreno in the spring of 1985 and would have their one, and only, child, Austin James Turman in 1990. Austin was a surprise to both, but the light of their world. Austin was a continuous source of pride for him, and the mere mention of his name brought a smile to his face. Following in his father's footsteps, Austin had a passion for sports and outdoors. Tom quickly embraced the role of "Head Coach of his Kid". As Austin began playing soccer and baseball at a young age, Tom never missed a game. Another note from little brother Dick, Tom was not perfect, like all of us, but "if T-I-M-E does spell L-O-V-E" then Tom was about as perfect a father as there ever was. Once he was kicked out of the stands a few times, he realized it was actually much harder to get kicked out if you are the coach. So he used this loophole to continue wreaking havoc on the diamond. Once Austin began high school sports and travel baseball, he retired back to the stands and gave his criticism as needed. But he never missed a game. He ended up running night shifts as a truck driver at Conway Freight in order to make every day game. He was not about to let Austin have a non-stressful athletic event. When Austin heard that motorcycle in the distance, he knew it was time to lock in. A noise that will be dearly missed. Tom is preceded in death by his Father, James Aubrey Turman; his mother Jane Black Turman Lacey and Step Father, Leo Lacey. He is survived by his wife, Norma Turman; his son, Austin Turman; his brother, Dick Turman and wife Kim, his uncles; Huntis and Layton Black (wife Thresa), his cousin Chance Black and his niece and nephew Lauren and Colt Turman. Tom had a warm and generous heart, always ready and willing to help a friend, even when on his last dollar. He was compassionate to strangers and knew how to make someone feel loved. He was a fierce lover of his Dallas Cowboys and his Texas Longhorns. He proudly passed this on to his son. But his greatest loves were his family, God, his dog and his Harley. There will never be a person as wild and loving as Tom. He will be greatly missed.