It has been said that the true measure of a man is in the lives he’s touched, and few touched more lives by just being himself than Kenny Thomas. Kenny finished the last leg of his journey on Saturday, August 19, 2023, surrounded by his family, after a life well-lived, full of adventures and stories, the likes of which will keep his memory alive and well for those fortunate enough to have known him. He left this world in the same way that he lived – on his own terms – and he left the world better than he found it. 
Kenny was born and raised in the Honey Grove community of Oklahoma, by Herman and Pearl Edwards on Thursday, September 14, 1944, and to say that God broke the mold when he made Kenny would be an understatement. He truly was one-of-a-kind. It’s fair to say that from an early age, it was clear to Herman and Pearl, and to everyone who knew him, that there was no sense trying to put a bridle on Kenny – he was going to go his own way and do things (or not) the way he saw fit. That was Kenny and to know him was to love him.
He found his first love when he hopped on his first horse, and that love stuck with him all his life. It’s a love he shared with his wife, Dixie, and their children, Ty and Nikki. He was a true horseman, and he made a career of it, doing what he loved up to the very end. The barn or the arena or watching Ty and Nikki rodeo were his favorite places to be. As a trainer, he had an uncanny way with horses, and when he shod horses (which he loved to do), the horse being sound was the ultimate payment. Needless to say, Kenny didn’t care about the money, awards, or accolades; he cared about the horses, and he sent many good rodeo horses down the road to great success, including several National Finals Rodeo horses. And make no mistake, Kenny was a competitor in his own right – he held cards in the IPRA, PRCA, CRA/UPRA, LRCA, CRRA, and USTRC – winning numerous calf roping and team roping titles. He could rope and he could ride, bulldogged from time to time, and he even jumped on a bull a time or two and there are pictures to prove it. He was an all-around cowboy who could do it all.
When he wasn’t in the saddle, he was light-hearted and easy-going, quick with a joke or a jab followed by a smile and a laugh, and if he wasn’t giving you a hard time about something, there’s a fair chance he might not like you. Truth is, despite the gruff exterior, he rarely met a stranger and would go to great lengths to help someone in need. 
In his later years, he settled into his role of being “Pops” to his grandkids, Taylor, Tenlee, Wyatt, and Hadley. Left to carry on Kenny’s legacy and share in the many stories are his wife, Dixie; his son, Ty Thomas and wife, Brooke; his daughter, Nikki McKinney and husband, Ben; his grandchildren, Taylor and Tenlee Thomas, and Wyatt and Hadley McKinney; his brother, Harold Thomas; his nieces and nephews, Brina Thomas, Toni Meadows (husband Chris), Chase Meadows, Allyson Meadows, Donna Hawkins (husband Brad), Jamie Arellano (husband Aaron), Brad Hawkins, Jr. (wife Jenni), , Rodney McCullough (wife Marilea), McKenna Roberts (husband Kevin), Ashlee Brown (husband Jacquis), Bailey McCullough, and Raydon McCullough as well as many cousins and close friends too numerous to name.
The Thomas family would like to extend a special thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Centric Home Health and Hospice, especially Carmen and Ashley, for their kindness, compassion, and care for Kenny and the family during a difficult time.
A funeral service was held at August 24, 2023, with Pastor Brent Coffey officiating. Stevie Steele, Clint Clark, Slate Wiseman, Gary Davis, Jeff Carter and JD Tadlock served as pallbearers. Monty Taylor, Dave Anteau, Cody McCartney, Tracy Brown, Jimmy Williams, Jack McCue, Clark Lorraine, DeMykal Burris, Bruce Emery and Jim Limbaugh were honorary pallbearers.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. Third Ave. in Durant.
Phone: (580) 916-9090
www.gordonfh.com
