Mr. Thomas “Man” Eugene Way Sr.

Mr. Thomas “Man” Eugene Way Sr. (69) of Venice Florida passed from this life to his Heavenly Father on April 2,2026. Viewing will be 8:30am-9:30am on April 14, 2026, at Chandler’s Funeral Home 1425 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota Fl. 34234. Celebration of Life will be at 11:00am-12:00 noon, at Venice Nokomis ELKS LODGE-(1854). 1021 Discovery Way North Venice Fl. 34275. Internment will take place at the Sarasota National Cemetery 9810 State Road 72. Sarasota Fl. 34241.

Thomas grew up in Goulds, a small community in Miami-Dade. The only boy among five sisters shared a strong bond with his family, spending weekends playing in his grandmother’s yard. Surrounded by relatives from both his mother’s Bahamian heritage and his father’s roots in Louisville, Georgia, Thomas experienced a rich blend of cultures. He fondly remembered tasting tropical fruits like guavas, mangoes, coco plums, sugar cane, and his grandmother’s coconut candy. Summers in Georgia introduced him to new scenery, cousin adventures, and Grandma Cora’s hearty breakfasts.

As he got older, Thomas often accompanied his father – an independent cement finisher – to job sites, seizing every chance to fish in nearby streams and canals, later bringing home catches for his mother to cook. He attended local schools, played high school football, and worked part-time at Publix. Weekends were spent with his cousin Randy tinkering with cars, often fixing engines together in just a day. Thomas met Phyllis at Publix, and their relationship blossomed during her college summer breaks.

Following high school, inspired by his brother-in-law, Thomas enlisted in the Army in 1975. He served seven years across multiple bases, including two years in Germany, where he set ambitious goals and qualified for a career in aviation thanks to his entry scores. Thomas and Phyllis secretary married in El Paso, Texas, in 1977, later celebrating a garden wedding in Jacksonville. Their children, Thomas and Tiffany, were born postings in Germany and Ft. Campbell.

After leaving the army, Thomas briefly worked in aviation before joining the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1982. After graduating from the academy, he began patrolling the South Dade communities. Eventually, he was recruited into the Miami-Dade Motor Unit. Initially unsure, he embraced the role fully, becoming an instructor and one of the unit’ stop riders, known for his humorous ticket stories and being dubbed the “ticket man”. Especially, after being accused of jumping out tress to hand over tickets for speeding.

In 1996, a motorcycle accident while responding to a speeding incident in South Dade altered his life’s path. He retired from police work in 1998. In 2015, Thomas moved his family to Punta Gorda and later settled in Venice, Florida. He enjoyed playing music from the 1960s and ‘70s, working outdoors whenever he could, and greeting neighborhood pets.

Retirement brought travel and time with grandchildren. Determine to attend meaningful events, he flew to Washington State for his grandson’s graduation; although the flight was difficult and he couldn’t be present in person, he watched the ceremony online. He enjoyed his music, yard work, and keeping up with neighbors despite his disability.

He built friendships with VA Homebase care workers and cherished traveling to see grandchildren, participating in their lives virtually when travel proved challenging. Although we will miss him, whenever you pass by his house and don’t see him there, know that he is doing well.

Thomas is survived by…his wife of 49 years, Phyllis Dailey Way; son, Thomas E. Way II (Leanne); daughter, Tiffany Joi Way; sisters, Geneva Walker (Edward) of Loxahatchee, FL, Thomasene Johnson (Rickey) of Decatur, GA, Connie Way Gaston of Cheltenham, MD, Denyse Roberts of Sayaeville, NJ and Donna Way Smith of Lithonia, GA; grandchildren, Tiyana C. Way, Takeo D. Way, Myah T. Way Downey, Tyellis M. Way and Eden G. Way; Aunts: Gloria Lowry, Kellis Hamilton of Dothan, AL, Doreth Norman and Earnestine Walker, both of Louisville, GA; mother-in-law, Betty J. Dailey Glover of
Jacksonville, FL;

Brothers-in-law, Reginald Dailey, Gregory Dailey, Brian K. Dailey of Jacksonville, FL and Kevin M. Dailey of Mt. Dora, FL; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Dailey Servance, Kimberly Dailey-Sellers (Raymond of Jacksonville, FL, Stephanie Dailey of Miami, FL and Suzanne Dailey (Alisa) of Port St. Lucie, FL; maternal figures Alma Fitzgerald and Leigh Robotham; godchildren, Leandrea Walker, Umeika Benjamin, Jasmin Grant, Gerald Grant III, Vanessa Robinson, Roosevelt Malone III, William Lucky III and Janiah Lucky; bonus sons, Haven Fields and Gray Graham; bonus grandchildren, Alex, Brandon, McKy, Neytiri, Anaya, Neiko and Ahaviah; special men, Raygo Downey and Brian Oates; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Arrangement’s Entrusted to Chandler’s Funeral Home.