Thomas Carroll Carlock, Jr., 49, of Starkenburg, Missouri, passed away on July 22, 2025, at St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake St. Louis. Born August 11, 1975, in St. Louis, Missouri, Thomas lived his life full of heart, grit, and laughter.

A proud and dedicated heavy equipment operator at Scott's Miracle-Gro, Tommy loved his work and especially his loader — so much so that he took pictures with it every day and shared them with his family. He often said he'd work until the day he died, and he meant it. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave, never doing anything halfway.

Tommy was a proud member of the Church of the Risen Savior in Rhineland, Missouri. He was a true free spirit — a hippie at heart who lived on his own terms. He loved skateboarding, playing guitar, and cranking up 105.7 The Point. Music ran through him — especially outlaw country — he recorded songs from the radio to send to his fiancée from work. He rarely missed a concert, and he always wore his signature crazy socks, each one louder than the last.

A lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fanatic, Sunday football was sacred in Tommy's house. He also cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals and never missed a chance to support his teams — or to scratch off a lotto ticket for luck.

Tommy adored his family. He was a proud father who loved nothing more than crawling around on the floor with his kids, watching them play games or sports, and bragging about them to anyone who'd listen. He shared quiet days off with his mom and never missed a Friday lunch with his fiancée — whose cooking he loved as much as he loved her.

Tommy had a big, bubbly personality and a smile that lit up the room. He made life fun, and he made the people around him feel loved, every single day. His joy, his humor, and his wild, beautiful energy will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his Fiancée, Mercedes Gotsch, of the home, and their children: Caliber, Huntley, and baby boy on the way; children: Christian (Sara) Carlock of Montgomery City, Hannah (Ahron) Spalding of Montgomery City, Riddick Carlock of Montgomery City, Ashton Carlock of Montgomery City; his mother, Diane (Richard) McCaw of Montgomery City; brothers: Tim (Amanda) Moore of Fulton, Tony (Amber) Moore of Illinois; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Carroll Carlock, Sr., grandparents: Helen Carlock, John Cedeck, and Betty Cedeck, and his aunt Mary, who thought the world of him.

A Memorial Service will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until the time of the service on Friday at the funeral home.

The family kindly requests that guests dress casually — or wear something that reminds them of Tommy, whether it's Chiefs gear, crazy socks, or anything that brings a smile. That's exactly how he would've wanted it.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to his minor children, they may be sent in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, Missouri 63361, or they can be left at Peoples Savings Bank to "the minor children of Thomas Carlock"