Thomas Kelsey Alexander, 73, of Murphy, North Carolina, passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. Born March 2, 1953, to Robert Glenn Alexander II and Jean Myra Wood Alexander, he came into this worldwide open and never slowed down for a second after.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his twin sister, Anne Alexander Harris; his brother, Robert Glenn Alexander III; His Beloved Dog Dixie Doodle; and his best buddy, Steve Hill.
He is survived by his daughters, Wendy Marie Alexander of Murphy and Angela Christina Alexander of Aurora, Colorado; his grandsons, Jeremiah Cook and wife Erin McCray of Rockmart, Georgia, and Dr. Zacheriah Alexander and wife April Alexander of Rome, Georgia; his precious great-grandsons, Asa Caius Alexander and Ezra Minton Alexander; and his brother, David Alexander of Atlanta, Georgia, and His Best Doggie Kandy.
To try to sum up Thomas Kelsey Alexander in an obituary feels nearly impossible because men like him do not fit neatly onto paper. He was an Eagle Scout; an accomplishment he remained proud of his entire life. He studied civil engineering at AB Tech in Asheville and spent decades helping build roads, highways, bridges, hospitals, schools, shopping centers, and subdivisions across Georgia. He worked for Bill Elliott Ford, Felix Palmer Surveying, Dutton Grading, Dinsmore Grading, Billy Gerald Grading, and owned and operated Terra Tech/Civil Estimators for over 31 years. He especially loved telling the story of working on Spaghetti Junction, where the President of the Georgia Department of Transportation personally shook his hand and thanked him for his work. He always said: "I might not have traveled the world, but I do leave behind a legacy of highways, bridges and site work for schools, hospitals, shopping centers and subdivisions all over the State of Georgia that I helped construct and build. For that lasting legacy I am proud of my participation!" And what a legacy it is.
But his work was only one part of the legend. He had a pilot's license, because apparently driving fast on the ground wasn't exciting enough. He loved jumping out of airplanes, muscle cars, motorcycles, and doing things most sane people would never attempt. He loved his 1970 Dodge Challenger, his Duster, and his '67 GTX like they were family members. He drove like every road was Daytona and believed a blind curve was merely a suggestion. He had red hair, a fiery temper to match it, and enough personality to fill ten lifetimes. He called his house the "One Tooth Saloon," and if you ever sat there long enough, you were guaranteed to hear stories that would leave you laughing until your stomach hurt. He could tell a story better than anyone. He didn't just tell stories; he performed them. Every sound effect, every expression, every dramatic pause. And nobody on earth could do an Ernest T. Bass impression like Thomas Kelsey Alexander.
At WCVP, he became famous for his hilarious "Hanging Dog helicopter traffic reports" done completely from the radio station studio complete with his own helicopter sound effects. He could turn an ordinary day into comedy gold without even trying. He was part Evel Knievel, part John Wayne, part Tom Selleck, part Red Skelton, and part Ernest T. Bass all somehow rolled into one unforgettable mountain man with a heart bigger than anyone realized. He was one of the smartest men you could ever meet. His memory was unbelievable. He loved history, could recall details most people forgot decades ago, and stayed mentally sharp until the very end. He could out talk,out thinkk, outwork, and out storytell just about anybody. And underneath all the wildness, stubbornness, laughter, and fire was a heart of pure gold. He loved deeply, hurt deeply, and endured suffering that most people could never comprehend.
Yet through it all, he kept fighting in the only way he knew how with grit, humor, and pure Thomas Kelsey Alexander determination. A great mind has gone silent. A thousand stories went with him. Murphy lost one of the last true originals.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 2 pm at Townson-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Murphy. The family will receive friends from 12 pm to 2 pm prior to the service. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeremiah Cook, Dr. Zacheriah Alexander, Michael Dawson, John Hill, Michael Hill, and Jonathan Wells. Honorary pallbearers will be David Alexander, Tim Dockery, Ronnie Westmoreland, Gary Westmoreland, Hubert Wells, Brian Wells, Dylan Pellom, Edward Reynolds, and Jimmy Jones.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home of Murphy is in charge of all arrangements.
"Some people leave behind money. Some leave behind property. Thomas Kelsey Alexander left behind stories, laughter, highways, memories, and a family who will never forget the force of nature that he was.'
You may send tributes to the family at
www.townson-rose.com
