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Submitted: 6/21/18 • Approved: 6/21/18 • Last Updated: 6/24/18 • R813946-G0-S3
Jan 26, 1927
Mar 5, 2018
James Lewis “Lew” Thomas died March 5, 2018, at Willow Care Nursing Home at the age of 91. Lew was born on January 26, 1927, in Willow Springs, Missouri, to Cecil and Imogene (Harkey)Thomas, the first of two children. He attended a one room school at Noblett where he served as a janitor. Later he attended high school in Willow Springs and was a bus driver his senior year. He spent two of his high school summers working in a zinc factory in St. Louis.
After graduation in 1945, he joined the army where he attained the rank of tech sergeant. On October 22, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Clara Vell Waggoner. To this union two children were born. Upon discharge from the army he returned to Willow Springs where he went to work for Reed-Harlin grocery sales. In 1953 he moved his family to Cabool for a few years and operated his own grocery store there. From this start he became a salesman for General Grocer Company and was later their salesman of the year. He returned to Willow Springs and later began selling specialty advertising for Newton manufacturing. He then started Thomas Advertising and sold custom designed tee shirts and baseball caps to canoe rental companies throughout the Ozarks.
He enjoyed golf and was instrumental in establishing the Willow Springs Country Club and golf course. He was a member of the local Rotary Club and the United Methodist Men’s group. He and his wife also enjoyed traveling with their good friends, Lyle and Maxine James, Jay and Martha Waggoner, and Adrian and Dot Lasley. Lew attended the Willow Springs Methodist Church and was known for his hearty laugh. He enjoyed fishing and gardening and produced some wonderful tomatoes. He was a big St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs fan and traveled to many of their games. But most of all, he loved his family and enjoyed being with them.
He is survived by his wife, Clara Vell, residing at the nursing home; his sister, Shirley Cole, of Davenport, Iowa; his son, James P. Thomas and wife, Linda, of Fairfax, Virginia; his daughter, Janet T. Shaw and husband, Robert, of Willow Springs, Missouri; grandchildren, James Thomas Jr. and wife, Ivy, of Arlington, Virginia, John Thomas of Fairfax, Virginia, Cathy Ivey and husband, Justin, of Chantilly, Virginia, Kim Boley and husband, James, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Tom Shaw and wife, Jody, of Nixa, Missouri; four great-grandchildren, Grace Shaw, Abbi Boley, Gabriel Shaw, and Thomas Ivey born on Lew’s 91st birthday. Lew is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Yarber Mortuary, Willow Springs, Missouri. Inurnment will follow in Willow Springs City Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
Contributed on 6/21/18 by mjrwag
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Record #: 813946