Thomas Edwin Rayburn, 84, of Peculiar, Missouri, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026.
He was born April 19, 1941, in Searcy, Arkansas. During high school his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he spent most of his life. Tom worked as a machinist at Bendix, later Allied-Signal, where he rose through the ranks into management and eventually oversaw multiple departments before retiring at age 52. Following his retirement, he and his wife, Rita, moved to Peculiar, Missouri.
Tom enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, grilling, and competitive trap shooting with friends from work.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lucille Rayburn; his sister, Patty Shockley; his stepdaughter, Kim McCormick; and his grandson, Corey McCormick.
Survivors include his wife, Rita Rayburn; sons Robert Rayburn and Curtis Rayburn (Cheryl); stepson Nick Roberson; sister Judy Barnett; 10 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 21, at 3:00 p.m. at Heuser Funeral Home in Rich Hill, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the youth programs at the Kansas City Trapshooting Association (Tom Rayburn Legacy Fund) QR Code below.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
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