Hubert Owen Thomas, “Tommy” to JoAnn, passed away Monday, February 24, 2025, at his home in Pawnee Station, Kansas where he resided with his wife, JoAnn Thomas. Hubert was born June 22, 1940, in Fort Scott Kansas, the son of Earl Owen and Edna Mae Thomas and later the brother of Karen “Sue” Thomas.
Hubert was a man of many trades, but most of all he loved providing and caring for his entire family. He grew up on a farm east of Fort Scott where he attended the Diamond School and built life-lasting friendships. He later graduated from Fort Scott High School.
Like many young men, Hubert ran from the farm and started his young adult life working for Mid-Continental Restoration where he only added to his friend list. Hubert met the love of his life sometime around 1958 while on another date in Hepler, Kansas. He married JoAnn in April 1963 and loved her until the day that he passed. Being one who was always leaning forward, he didn’t wait for a draft and voluntarily joined the Army during a period of severe unrest in Vietnam. Fortunately, Hubert was able to serve out his two years as a medic in Germany with his beautiful wife by his side. Their first child was born six months after they returned to the US. It was then, Hubert decided, life on the road was not fit for “his” family.
For the remainder of his life, Hubert would build his legacy. He learned how to run a dozer, purchased it, and turned it into a General Construction business by the early 1980’s. Thomas Construction is still alive today and has made its mark all over Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. After his father passed in 1970, Hubert was drawn back to the farm. What began as 300 acres of inherited “leased” land and an “M” Farmall tractor became the four square miles of property his next three generations of Thomases, Wrights and Snyders enjoy today. Today his legacy can be witnessed through the love these three families share and continue to cultivate.
As the years went on, Hubert found his true passion was the one he ran from as a young man. He leaned into the cattle business, as a “Cattleman”. He could often be found with a big smile on his face sitting at the livestock auctions, working cattle, and watching grandkids show cattle in shows in multiple states. In fact, he was just at a show with grandkids three weeks ago in Texas. There was always a freezer full of beef for anyone in his family to grab a steak from.
Hubert is survived by his wife JoAnn Thomas, his sister Sue Gray, his three children Gregory Owen Thomas, Elizabeth (Joe) Wright, Natalie (John) Snyder, his seven grandchildren, Bart (Nicole) Wright, Nicholas Owen (Chelsea) Thomas, Drew (Hannah) Wright, Zachary (Stevie) Snyder, Lucas Snyder, Ella Snyder and Thanya Brown-Thomas, and four great-grandchildren, Raelynn Wright, Sofia Thomas, Brooks Wright, and Ellison Owen Thomas. Hubert was preceded in death by his parents Earl Owen and Edna Mae Thomas, his future daughter-in-law, Nong Brown, and his grandsons Nathanial Wright and Hunter Thomas.
Hubert Owen Thomas lived big and loved even bigger! He will be missed by all he touched!
Funeral services for Hubert are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with burial following at the Clarksburg, Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, February 26, 2025, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
