Hayward Thomas

Hayward Lee "Red" Thomas, 96, of Pleasanton, Kansas died Sunday, August 30, 2009 at Medicalodge Nursing Home, Fort Scott, Kansas. He was born August 25, 1913 in Freeman, Missouri, the son of George Lee and Ollie May Franse Thomas. He married Ellen Maxine Johnson on June 2, 1949 at Mound City, Kansas. She preceded him in death on January 11, 2006. He served in World War II with the United States Army. Prior to retirement, he worked as a logger with Frank Murray and later worked for Smith Miller Construction. He was a member of the Hewitt-New American Legion Post #248 of Mound City, Kansas. Red was an avid gardner. He was preceded in death also by his parents and daughter & son-in-law, Patricia and Gregg Wheeler and one sister, Alice May. Survivors include one son, Edwin Thomas of Pleasanton, Kansas; his granddaughters, Crystal Ayers & Bart and Kellen Geneva & Luke, all of Fort Scott, Kansas and Sue Ellen Tinkey & Mark of Tyler, Texas; sisters, Cara Wilma Anderson, Opal Butler, Lillian Thomas and Sally Scherzer; and grandchildren, Skyler Lee, Daylan and Lane Houck . Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, September 3, 2009 at the Curry Cemetery, Mound City, Kansas. Visitation will be from 7-8 PM, Wednesday at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Pleasanton, Kansas. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family c/o the funeral home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, Pleasanton, Kansas.