Graveside Services for Lyle Thomas “Tom” Clary, Age 74 of Alton, Missouri will be held on Thursday, August 20th, 2026 in The Hickory Cemetery, Alton, Missouri, beginning at 11:00 AM.
Arrangements under the direction of The Clary Funeral Home, Alton, Missouri.
Lyle Thomas “Tom” Clary, Age 74 of Alton, MO, was born March 2, 1952, in Springfield, MO, and passed away August 14, 2026, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
Survivors include: his wife, Diana; 2 sons, Robert Clary and wife Anna of Alton, MO, Jonathan Clary and wife Adrian of Alton, MO; 6 grandchildren, Taylor Honeycutt (Eric), Devin Clary (Alexis), Drew Clary (Baylee), Avery Clary, Kade Clary, Kanaan Clary; 5 great-grandchildren, Hollyn, Juddson, Roran, Oliver, Saylor; 1 brother, John Clary (Cathy); 3 sisters-in-law, Jackie Beutler, Neda Owens, Debbie Clary; 1 brother-in-law, John Owens; nieces, Marisa and Tracy; nephews, Jason, Chris, Matt, Brad, Dale, Greg, Alvin, and Daniel; along with numerous other family members and friends.
He is preceded by: his parents, JQ and Nancy (Lamar) Clary; his brother, Jim Clary; 1 nephew, Jamie Clary; father-in-law and mother-in-law Alvin and Frances Owens; brothers-in-law, Dale, George, Bob.
Tom was born and raised in Alton and graduated from Alton High School. During high school, he was a proud member of the band, track, and baseball teams, as well as a member of the 1970 District Champion basketball team.
After graduation, Tom attended the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky. While in college, he was a member of the basketball team and was nominated and selected to be a Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky Governor Wendell H. Ford.
After graduating from college, Tom moved back to the area and married his high school sweetheart, Diana Owens, on February 24, 1973, in Alton, Missouri. During his many years in Alton, Tom proudly served as the Oregon County Coroner and on the Alton School Board.
During his early adult years, Tom continued to play many sports throughout the area, including baseball, basketball, and fast-pitch softball. His coaching “career” began with Mighty Mite football in Mountain Grove and expanded to basketball and baseball after he and Diana moved back to Alton in 1985.
One of his first coaching endeavors after returning to Alton was coaching Rob alongside Denny Reese and a bunch of 11-year-olds who went on to finish in the Sweet 16 at the AAU National Championship in Orlando, Florida. Tom continued to coach countless basketball and baseball teams throughout the years, including another memorable venture into AAU basketball with Jonathan, as well as coaching all 6 of his grandkids.
Tom also loved being a referee and umpire. He was even selected to serve as a rules commissioner at two AAU National Baseball Tournaments. His love of sports extended beyond the sidelines as well. He announced football games on the radio for the Mountain Grove Panthers, including a state championship game at Busch Stadium II. He also announced basketball games for KALM in Thayer, Missouri, and later provided play-by-play for the video streams on Redline Media and the Alton Comets Sports Network.
Tom was into anything fast his entire life—motorcycles, four-wheelers, go-karts, and cars. Club 19 Straight Stretch was one of Tom’s favorite Friday night hangouts during high school. Tom and his buddies weren’t picky; they would race “whatever he had.”
His first muscle car was a ’66 Chevelle that he “borrowed” from his older brother John while John was serving in the Air Force. Tom’s love for cars naturally leaned toward Bow-Ties, but he was never above appreciating anything with wheels and a motor. Over the years, he owned a Ferrari, a Porsche, a couple of Fords—including a 1966 Shelby Mustang—and many more.
In 1997, Tom found his next fast “thing” with the purchase of a 1969 Daytona Yellow Yenko Camaro. That car sparked something much bigger. It led to Tom founding the Yenko Sportscar Club and starting a very successful run of SuperCar Reunions that he organized and participated in all over the country. Through those Reunions, Tom made countless friendships and created memories that lasted a lifetime.
Tom was the best husband, father, Poppy, brother, and friend anyone could have. He loved big and was always our biggest fan, no matter what we chose to do. He was proud of his family and took great joy in watching each of us live our lives.
Tom truly felt like he had lived *the* best life. He was surrounded by the people he loved, doing the things he loved, and making memories along the way. His family, friends, sports, cars, and countless adventures were all a part of the life he built—and the legacy he leaves behind.
