Billy Ray Thomas

Billy Ray Thomas was born August 23, 1926 on a farm beside the Washita River east of Chickasha, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of four children born to Alva Ray Thomas and Carrie Bell (Palmer) Thomas. The Lord called Billy Ray to his eternal home on May 2, 2019, at the age of 92.

Bill, as most people knew him, lived all of his life in the Ninnekah and Chickasha areas.  He married Gloria LaVelle McClellan on December 21, 1946 and they shared over 71 years together before her passing in 2018.  He served our country in the U.S. Army during World War II as an ambulance driver in Japan.  He later completed his term of service at Borden General Hospital in Chickasha, being honorably discharged in July 1947 with the rank of Buck Sergeant.

After being saved at the age of 27, Bill loved the Lord above all and became a true student of God's Word.  He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for over 50 years, much of that as a member of First Baptist Church which he dearly loved.

Bill's friends and family knew him foremost as a Christian, an honest man, humble, reliable, always living a life of integrity. He was a hard worker, a lifelong contractor, and supported his family by running his own construction company.  In his younger years every summer he could be found coaching his sons' Little League baseball teams, and every fall he was cheering for the OU Sooners football.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife LaVelle, a brother Homer LeRoy Thomas, a sister Dorothy Fern Bennett, a son Phillip David Thomas, two daughters-in-law Kathy Thomas and Sherry Thomas, and one great-grandson Jalen Wayne Wyatt.

Survivors include his son Carl Richard "Rick" Thomas, a daughter Gloria Gaynelle Wyatt and husband Larry, brother Kenneth Dale Thomas and wife Kathy from Falls Church, Virginia, 8 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and a host of loved nieces and nephews and other family members and friends.