Thomas "Tom" Francis Vetters

Tom Vetters, 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and Rev. Monsignor John McCaffrey on Friday, February 9, 2024, in Bryan, Texas.

A rosary is scheduled for Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bryan, Texas, with visitation to follow from 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  A funeral mass is scheduled for Monday, February 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bryan, Texas. A graveside service is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Tom was born a proud 5^th generation Texan in Corpus Christi on August 3, 1938, to Mary Grace Dunn and Gilbert Vetters. He graduated from Ray High School in 1956 and graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in May 1960. Tom continued his education after college with post graduate course work from the University of Houston and Texas A&M University in real estate, law and related fields that served him well when he decided to obtain his real estate and broker’s license.

On July 22, 1961, he married his high school sweetheart Imogene Stanley Vetters and they enjoyed 62 years of marriage together and raised three children.

Tom was introduced to the Christian faith at a young age as a student at ‘Most Sacred Heart’ catholic school in Corpus. That education paid off and there was rarely any week that passed without Tom attending church. He wasn’t always on-time or in his Sunday best, but you could almost set your clock to Tom Vetters attending church each week. Tom’s father Gilbert F. Vetters spent his whole life in the newspaper business at the Corpus Christi Caller Times. Following in those footsteps Tom interned at the Caller Times in high school and after college started his career at the Caller Times as an ad salesman. In 1964, Ed Hart, owner and publisher of the Caller Times, encouraged Tom to move to Houston and work for Bill Hobby who owned the Houston Post. Tom enjoyed immediate success when he arrived in Houston, and in June 1967, Mr. Hart asked Tom to move to Bryan, Texas, and assume the role of President and Publisher of the Bryan College Station Daily Eagle. After several years with the Eagle, Tom left the newspaper business and opened Aggieland Realty with his partner George Riley in 1974 (and according to Dad he never retired from the real estate business). Active in civic affairs, Tom was a member of the board of directors of Crestview Nursing Homes, the Knife and Fork Dinner Club, Carousel Dance Club and was a member of the Citizens Advisory Board of the 85^th District Court. Tom was also a 50-year member of Rotary and received the Paul Harris Fellow award in 2014.

Tom and his brother Gilbert C. Vetters (who preceded him in death) enjoyed growing up in Corpus Christi and spent many hours together in the outdoors. Tom was able to experience some of the best dove, quail, and white-tailed deer hunting South Texas has to offer. He enjoyed fishing in and around Corpus Christi for trout and red fish. During his teenage years he earned extra money maintaining some of the beautiful sailboats moored in the Corpus Christi Bay, which he also enjoyed sailing. He spent many hours as a lifeguard and is credited with saving one man’s life who jumped in and immediately sank to the bottom of the pool. Later in life, Tom enjoyed working at the family ranch in Sandia, Texas, where the family raised cattle and enjoyed spending time “in the country.” Some of his nieces, nephews, and children’s fondest memories were made at Sandia.

While in Bryan, Tom volunteered as a softball and baseball coach at Little League North for almost 20 years where he taught his kids and many others how to play sports and, more importantly, how to succeed in life. Never far from the outdoors, Tom and a group of friends from Bryan spent many years on an annual fishing and oystering trip to Matagorda, Texas. Tom also loved boating and taught countless men, women, boys, and girls how to water ski. If you wanted to learn to ski, Tom was 100% confident he could teach you and he had an “almost” perfect record. The only person he was not able to teach how to water ski was his sweet wife Imogene who refused to let her hair get wet. Once again, following in his father’s footsteps, Tom raised many litters of German Short-haired Pointers and would tell anyone who would listen that he believed that breed was the perfect hunting dog.

Tom was preceded in death by his mother Mary Grace Dunn Vetters, his father Gilbert F. Vetters, his brother Gilbert C. Vetters and his brother’s wife Marie Vetters.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Imogene Stanley Vetters and their three children

• Eleanor Dunn Vetters Schuler (James) and their children Kristen Schuler, Kallie Schuler and Kolton Schuler (Ally) great-grandchildren Brynlee Schuler and Laynie Schuler.
• Clare Vetters Cougill (Tom) and their children Marie Cougill and Catherine Cougill
• Thomas F. Vetters II (Bethany) and their children Caroline Vetters and Cayla Vetters

The family extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to Maggie and her team at Broadmoor Court and to Johnna and the Bluebonnet Hospice team that provided the absolute best care and kindness to our Dad.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to:

• St. Joseph Catholic Church Bryan, Texas - 507 E. 26^th St., Bryan, Texas 77803
• Bryan Rotary Club Charity Corporation – P.O. Box 2760, Bryan, Texas 77805