Thomas Leroy Pettit

Thomas Leroy Pettit, our beloved father, brother, uncle, cousin, fiancé, and friend,  passed from this life on Friday, February 25, 2022 after a two-year battle with cancer. Tom was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 4, 1959 to Grover Leroy Pettit and Mary Alice Pettit, the fourth of six children.  He grew up in Ann Arbor and graduated from Huron High School in 1978.  Then after living briefly in Colorado and California, he returned to Michigan where he lived until his passing. His lifelong trade was auto body repair and restoration, which he learned from his father in the family business. Many Michigan cars had their beauty restored by his skillful hands. In addition to raising his family, Tom loved many things, such as astronomy and nature.  He had great interest in alien life, even writing and publishing books on the topic.  He enjoyed photography and paleontology.  Fossil hunting was a favorite pastime. Tom leaves behind five loving children – Christal Powell, Jimmy, Emily, Annie and Andrew Pettit; his mother, Mary, and his fiancé Lorna Barrett.  He leaves to mourn him, his five siblings - brothers David (Dee) and Daniel, and sisters Cynthia Baetz (Chuck), Susan Hunt (Roy), and Lori Zoumbaris.  He leaves three grandchildren – Dylan and Bailey Whitney, and Willow Powell.  He is also survived by his aunt, Gail Skelton, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father, his grandparents, and his aunts and uncles.  A celebration of life and love will take place at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, 2959 N. Adrian Hwy., Adrian, Michigan 49221 on Friday, March 4, 2022.  Visitation beginning at 1pm, Memorial Service at 3pm. He was deeply loved for the man he was and for his ambitions and passions and his silly nature.  He’ll be dearly missed.

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