Loose Leaf Notes

Tom Phelps’ son Seth aptly coined the phrase “One of the Chiefs of our Tribe” to refer to his dad, who died on September 18^th after a long struggle with cancer.

On October 1st the community came out in droves – during a window of time before and after flooding rains – to celebrate Tom’s life.  Through tears and laughter he was remembered as a character with character (as someone so fittingly put it), as a Floyd community icon, a farmer, potter, golfer, mentor and dedicated family man (which included being a loving grandfather).

My Asheville Potter son Josh (pictured here with some other fellow-Floyd potters), was one of a group of teens that Tom mentored in the ‘90s.  He choked up while remembering when Tom told him and his wild bunch of friends (which included Tom’s son Seth) that they needed to channel their energy into something valuable and important and creative in this world. Tom opened his pottery studio to the teenaged community and Floyd’s ugly face pots (prominent at Floydfest since the festival’s inception) were born.  “When I was 15, I didn’t know it then, but Tom gave me my life’s work, which I’m still doing today,” Josh said.

Tom’s work ethic was remembered.  “Tom loved life and liked to have fun, but if he couldn’t work the next day, it wasn’t for him,” someone said. His unassuming presence, generosity and unique laugh were mentioned more than once.  His siblings shared stories of growing up in Pennsylvania and his wife Carol thanked the community for their outpouring, acknowledging how hard it’s going to be “to be me rather than us” after 45 years.

Butch Robins, the legendary banjo player who played golf with Tom, said in his tribute.  “There’s been a lot of talk of family, love and community today.  That was Tom Phelps. You were all his family.” Floyd’s own Bernie Coveney also played in tribute to Tom.

Throughout the tributes, I kept looking over at Tom’s sons, Adam and Seth.  They were both wearing Tom’s well-known fashion statement, farmer’s overalls and tie dye, and I kept thinking I was seeing Tom.  It was so natural to see him among the crowd at Floyd gatherings.

I have to say, the memorial feasting, the hugs, the reminiscing and the sense of passing of the community torch on to the next generation filled my heart and took my breath away.

That’s our Tom with the umbrella on top of his high rise Tom Phelps Pottery booth at Floydfest a few years back.  You can read Tom’s obituary in The Floyd Press HERE.  Check out Tom Phelps Studio on Facebook.