Lela May Thomas

Lela May Thomas passed away Thursday, December 24, 2020 at the age of 91. She was born to Claud and Rissia King April 23, 1929 in Phillipsburg, MO. She grew up on the family farm with her three siblings, Chester King, Wilma Williams, and Dale King.

After high school, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse shortly before she met and married Raymond Thomas in 1948. They moved to Kansas City, KS where her husband worked at General Motors, and in 1959 they moved to Basehor where Lela was a farmer’s wife, beloved mother, and homemaker. They were the proud parents to four daughters and one son.

She was a member of Church of Christ and worshipped every week until her health prevented her from attending. She was well-known for her homemade rolls and pies, and hospitality. She enjoyed singing, sewing, and gardening, and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters Pam Freeman (Lloyde Curtis), Janet Atkins, and Cindy Whited, and son Brian Thomas, grandchildren April Harper (Claude), Dwain Porter, Chris Freeman (Jennifer), Kent Gunter (Julie), Tricia Millis (Greg), Eric Freeman, Emily Hullet (Robert), Jeremy Whited (Paula), Matthew Atkins, and 14 great grandchildren who will cherish her memories.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Karen Bartlett, and her 3 siblings.

She spent the last months of her life being cared for at Brookdale College Square Assisted Living Facility. The family sends their heartfelt thanks to everyone at Brookdale for caring for Lela during the COV-ID crisis while family visits were severely limited.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 30, 2020 from 4-6 PM at Kaw Valley Church of Christ, 302 Shoemaker Way, Tonganoxie, Kansas. A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 11:00 AM, also at the church. The funeral service will also be available live on Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Please log on to facebook.com/chapelhillbutler to view the livestream of Lela’s service. Shortly before the appointed time, the livestream will begin. If you do not see the livestream on your screen, please refresh your page. You may need to scroll down to see the livestream. Interment will be immediately following in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.