Thomas Wayne "Gravy" Lambert, 77, of Nilwood died Sunday morning, Aug. 31, 2014, at Friendship Nursing Home in Carlinville.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Davis-Anderson Funeral Home in Girard. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Don Durbin officiating.
Burial will take place in Waverly Cemetery in Waverly.
Mr. Lambert was born in Waverly on Oct. 1, 1936, the son of the late Perry and Edith (Flowers) Lambert. He married Dixie Dowland on June 7, 1968, and they later divorced but remained friends. He then married Ruth E. Kulenkamp in Shipman on June 4, 2005, and she survives in Nilwood.
He attended Waverly schools and was a lifelong truck driver, traveling to almost all 50 states. He wrote country and gospel music lyrics throughout his life and was very active in his church.
Mr. Lambert loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was also a Knights Templar of the York Rite and a 32nd degree master Mason of the Consistory of the Scottish Rite, belonging to the Plainview Lodge 461 and the Carlinville Lodge 76.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Michelle Lambert (companion Patrick Noel) and Marsha (Nick) Schott, both of Carlinville; son, Michael Lambert of Carlinville; stepdaughter, Cindy Stover of Carlinville; stepson, Jim (Lisa) Stults of Ohio; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister, Imogene (Jim) White of Waverly; brother, Bob (Wilma) Lambert of Divernon; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Mr. Lambert was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent at www.davisandersonfuneralhome.com.
