Thomas C. "Shoobie" Sterling

Thomas C. "Shoobie" Sterling, from Navarre, Ohio, went to be with the Lord, on Sunday, January 12th, 2025, following a lengthy illness. 

Tom was a graduate of Massillon Washington High School, and was drafted by the U.S. Army and deployed to Vietnam after graduation.

After serving his country in war, Tom relocated to Florida, where he fell in love with the sunshine and beaches of Southern Florida. Key West was his favorite place in the world. 

Tom returned to Massillon in the mid 70's to begin his lifelong career in the bar business, opening the original Shoobie's Tavern, on Lincolnway West.

Tom would continue to own and operate bars throughout the Massillon/Canton area, for the next 30 years, with Daily Double of Meyer's Lake, and Shoobie's of Massillon, being his pride and joy. 

Tom also opened one of Massillon's only Taxi Companies, in the late 80's, with the addition of A-1 Taxi, located in Downtown Massillon. 

Upon Tom's retirement from the Bar Industry, he relocated to Las Vegas in 2005, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Tom's love for people, good conversation, and his helping nature, led him to start his retirement job of driving Taxi, on the Las Vegas Boulevard. Tom spent 14 years traveling the streets of Las Vegas, hanging up his Taxi Cab keys in 2019.

Tom returned to Ohio in 2022 after 19 years of fun, sun and gambling in Las Vegas.

Tom touched and helped so many lives during his lifetime. He was a huge financial supporter of the Massillon "Shop with a Cop" program, and a generous supporter of any and all programs needing help. 

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Jim & Bernice Sterling. He is survived by a brother Jim of Florida. 

Tom was fortunate to have a plethora of lifelong friends. Special friend Larry Rambaud, was Tom's Ohio sidekick. They visited almost every Nascar Track in the U.S., spent many vacations together, and ran the "circuit" for years. 

Special friend Jay Gowins, Tom's Vegas sidekick, followed Tom to Las Vegas in 2007, where they worked together for a number of years. Tom and Jay spent years of fun, sun and video poker in the Las Vegas Valley. 

Throughout the years in the bar business, Tom created great relationships with his employees, which turned into lifelong special friendships with his favorite gals, Heather and Dana. 

Tom has requested that there be no calling hours or funeral. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, so that all of Tom's friends can gather, pay tribute, and share their favorite memories. To leave a special message for them, please visit the guestbook below.