Thomas Wayne Faulkner

Thomas "Tom" Wayne Faulkner, Sr., a/k/a Tom Wayne, 78, formerly of Wilburton, Oklahoma passed away on December 26, 2022 in McAlester, Oklahoma. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2022 at the Jones Harkins Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Willard Francis officiating. The burial will follow at Centerpoint Cemetery under the direction of Jones Harkins Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Williams, Max Wagner, Tyler Faulkner, Nicholas Faulkner, David Lee Kemp, and Jason Kemp. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Faulkner, Jr., Mark Hatchett, David Kemp, Mike Bevill, Cindy Kemp, Lisa Hatchett and Shannon Faulkner. Tom was born on July 31, 1944 in Wasco, California to Barney Faulkner and Rosena (Sanders) Faulkner-Williams. Tom was a singer/songwriter who has recorded more than 50 songs and written over 200, many of which have been recorded by other artists. Tom's first record, "The King Lives on Forever", a song he wrote just three days after Elvis' death, has been featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show", CNN and in the movie "Rock and Roll Disciples", which was released in the United States and several European countries. In 1982, Tom teamed up in Nashville with Sheb Wooley for a duet remake of the three-million seller "The Purple People Eater". That project was co-produced by Bob Williams, who is Tom's brother and manager, and Sheb. The record was Pick Hit of the week at Trans-American Broadcasting Corp, a syndicated network program in Hollywood. It also did very well in Canada. In the middle 80's, Tom wrote and recorded "We called Him E.T". which became a #1 for Tom and one of his biggest sellers. Tom performed this song at schools all over the country. Some of Tom's earlier records have become collectibles. "The Frisbee Record", for example, has sold on eBay for more than $50.00 for a single copy. Tom has made numerous TV and radio appearances and performed on shows with many stars, including Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Reba McEntire and Grammy Award-winner, Jody Miller, for whom he wrote, "Supreme Decision", a song that reached #1 for her in 1999. His latest release was "From the Heart", featuring "For God and Country, a tribute to America's Veteran's. This new CD has 13 songs and includes duets with country music legends Leona Williams and Jody Miller. Leona has recorded the song on her just-released CD "New Patches". The American Legion and other veterans' organizations are selling this CD as a fund-raiser with profits going to help America's veterans. Tom is survived by his children: Lisa Hatchett and husband, Mark of Chickasha, and Tom Faulkner, Jr. and wife, Shannon of Chickasha; his grandchildren: Alisa Kennell of Chickasha, Max Wagner of Chickasha, Miranda Jolley and husband, Doug of Stratford, Tyler Faulkner and wife, Ashley of Moore, and Nicholas Faulkner of Chickasha; his great grandchildren: Heather Wagner, Aubree Voegeli, Haiden Wagner, Brynnlee Kennell, Harlie Baker, Rylee Hart, and Mahaley Jolley; his brothers: Bill Williams of Wilburton, and Gary Williams of Wilburton; his sister: Cindy Kemp and husband, David of McAlester; his sister-in-law: Brenda Williams of Yukon; his nieces and nephews: Duane Ashley, Suzan Haynes, Billy Williams, Joey Williams, Kristin McHenry, Jason Kemp, David Lee Kemp, Valerie Williams, Lyndsey Massey, Andrea Williams, and Jeremy Williams; along with numerous other family and friends. Tom is preceded in death by his mother: Rosena (Sanders) Williams; his father: Barney Faulkner; and his brother: Bob Williams.