Willie Thomas was born Saturday, April 8, 1944 in Fresno, Calif. to Willie Henry Thomas and Mary Aline (Peden) Thomas. He passed from this life on Sunday, March 13, 2022 in Durant, Okla. at the age of 77. 
Willie is a graduate of Blue High School with the Class of ’64. Growing up in the back hills of Bokchito, and a confirmed “Hillbilly,” Willie spent his time as a young adult to add beauty to the dismal surroundings. Willie grew up in a five-room house and was one of eight children. He developed a green thumb for growing plants and love of flowers. Willie also was a collector of many treasured pieces of solid oak furniture such as cupboards with frosted glass doors, pedestal dining tables, chairs and dressers. He also had old fashioned cookstoves, numerous pieces of crockware, kerosene lamps and a wall arrangement of gold painted pitchforks and shovels intertwined with dried wheat.
Willie worked in remodeling and construction. He was educated in the Job Corps and developed a talent for drafting. He had a passion for finding beauty in old things and refurbishing all kinds of furnishings. Willie recalled a philosophy he learned at a young age: “If somebody else can do a whole lot of something, whatever it might be, I can at least do a little bit of it.”
Willie’s favorite pick-me-up is the piano. He gets absorbed in the keyboards and his troubles soothe themselves away. Willie gave much credit to his wife Carol for her never-ending support and help. He enjoyed fishing and gardening.
Willie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carol, in 1990; and brother, John Thomas. 
He is survived by his sons, Willie Lee Thomas and his wife, Cindy, of Caddo, Okla., and Rodney Thomas and his wife, Lethia, of Bokchito, Okla.; grandchildren, Lauren Cantrell, Logan Thomas, Lexus Thomas, Rodney Lee Thomas (Krystal) and Gabriel Thomas; siblings, Henry A. Thomas of Bokchito, Okla., Sue Meyer of Bokchito, Okla., Lois Sprouse of Rosedale, Ore., May Thomas and Barbara Thomas of Bakersfield, Calif., and David Thomas of Mead, Okla.; several great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Friday, March 18, 2022, at the Bokchito Cemetery pavilion with Bro. Ross Phillips officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service in Durant, Okla.
