Tommy Joe Vargas, 60, of Dewey, died Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Bartlesville. Life dealt Tommy many obstacles and blows but he always came out smiling and most importantly looking cool.
Tommy was born the son of Esteban "Lou" and Dolores Jean (Reid) Vargas on September 28, 1964, in Lawton, Oklahoma. He grew up in Dewey and had a love for motorcycles, cool cars and fishing. His coolness factor was even multiplied exponentially by his martial arts ability and skill with the nunchucks, at least in his younger brother's eyes. Both Lisa and Esteban recalled that Tommy was always ready to let them tag along wherever he went and they looked up to him. Tommy graduated from Dewey High School with the Class of 1983. He went to Alaska for two years to work and out to Kentucky to work on a tobacco farm, but most importantly to enjoy the outdoors. His mother Jean remembers Tommy mailed her a huge fish that he caught in Alaska in a special freezer package. Most of his years were spent here in Dewey, where he worked various jobs. For 18 years he was married to Phyliss Davis until she passed. Most recently he reconnected with a high school sweetheart Jackie Davis. Jackie shared with Esteban that no man had ever shown her so much love and acceptance. She didn't know this was even possible.
Tommy was the cool person everyone wanted to be. If you know someone cool, Tommy was in that league. Some say Tommy was cut from the same cloth as James Dean, Johnny Cash and the Fonz. He was a lady magnet and he still walked with a special swagger. Even in the past few years with all of his health concerns, each and every nurse just adored him. He had a big heart, Tommy opened his humble home to those who needed a hand and he was generous sometimes to a fault. Luckily he had a strong family that always looked after him and loved him dearly. Our prayer is he continues to live his best life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Tommy is survived by his mother Jean Vargas; siblings, Esteban Vargas II and wife Tara, and Lisa Vargas Brown; special friend, Jackie Davis; and a host of other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Lou Vargas; sister, JoLena Jordan and wife Phyliss Davis.
Visitation will be held Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75). Family will receive friends from 6-7. A rosary will be said on Wednesday at 7 p.m., in the Davis Family Funeral Home - Dewey Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Dewey. Interment will follow in the Dewey Cemetery.
Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com
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