Tom Healey

We are sad to announce the passing of our father, grandfather, husband, uncle and friend Ward Thomas Healey, 68, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, formerly of Creston. Tom passed away surrounded by his loved ones April 12, 2023, after a short illness.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be 9-10 a.m. with family receiving friends and a time for storytelling and sharing at 9:30 a.m, Saturday, July 1 at Powers Funeral Home in Creston, followed by interment in Graceland Cemetery. The family would like those in attendance to follow in the procession from Powers Funeral Home in their classic cars and motorcycles, as they lay Tom to rest.

Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Tom was born Feb. 16, 1955, in Creston. He attended school in Creston. Tom married Sandy Misner and they were blessed with a son, Marty, in 1979. They later divorced. Marty was Tom’s pride and joy, as was his grandson JT, who was born in 2012. Tom married Melinda Utterback in 2002.

He spent a short time in California, where he began racing motorcycles and learned to do competitive diving. Upon returning to Creston, he began trucking for his father at Healey Transfer. Tom eventually bought his own big rig and hauled near and far for multiple people. After he retired from trucking, he worked for several years as an auto mechanic for M&M Motors and later moved to Mississippi and opened a custom hot rod shop. Tom retired in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

He was a commercial truck driver, he loved to race stock, late modified and sprint cars. He was also a certified small airplane pilot, certified auto mechanic, accomplished RCA plane builder and operator, custom car builder and licensed ham radio operator. He loved to tell colorful stories and never met a stranger. We were blessed to have learned from him. Every day with him was an adventure.

Tom is survived by his son, retired Chief Warrant Officer USN, Martin Daniel Healey (special friend Smitha Joseph and her son Charlie); grandson, Joseph Thomas Healey of San Diego, California; his wife Melinda J. (Roger) Utterback; his two stepsons, Caleb (Carrie) Utterback of Lewisburg, Tennessee, and Jacob Utterback-Miller of Alexandria, Virginia; brothers-in-law, Jack Davis of Creston and Glen Gates of Diagonal; sister-in-law, Mary K. (Thomas) Long of Stockton, Missouri; nieces: Suzie (Todd) Stofferahn of Creston, Deborah (Joel) Christy of St. Joseph, Michigan, and Angie Davis of Fresno, California; many cousins and countless friends.

Tom was proceeded in death by his sister, Cheri Davis; sister-in-law Maggie Gates; mother, Beryl (Beaumont) Healey and his father Joseph Ward Healey.