Obituraries

John Wesley Thomas, Jr. went home to be with the Lord on November 19, 2022.

Wesley was a man who was dedicated to the Lord and his family. Services for Wesley will be on Tuesday November 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Cox-Rowley funeral home chapel. There will be a viewing on Monday November 21, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Wesley was born June 10, 1926, in Hunter, Okla., to John Thomas and Clara Moxley.

Wesley was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Betty Sue Thomas; sons Jim Travis and Lightnin McDuff; and a daughter, Debra Reece and her husband Rick Reece.

Wesley was survived by his son, John Wesley Thomas III, and his wife, Beckey Thomas; and daughter-in-law Debby Carey; grandchildren J.W. Thomas, Jessica Thomas, Karlee Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Dylan Reece, Matt Thomas, April Carey, Jamie Chafin, and Josh Arnett; 15 great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren whom he loved dearly.

Wesley was known and loved by so many. He met many people during his years at Pantex as a tool and die maker. Now if you asked his grandkids what he did for a living, they would have told you he made toilet paper. They always wondered why that was such a high demand job. Pantex was the job Wesley pursued mainly during the years when his children were growing up.

Along with working at Pantex, Wesley shoed horses, something he learned and did for a source of income since he was a teenager. In fact, he went on to teach horse shoeing classes at TSTI. It wasn’t unusual to go by his house on Hastings and see several horses lined up waiting to be shoed before he went to work at Pantex. Wesley had shoeing down to an art. He could look at a horse and tell you exactly what needed to be done do to fix their feet.

After retiring from Pantex, Wesley and Betty moved to Clarendon where they purchased a ranch and made a home. Wesley spent most of his retirement years running cattle, training horses, and living out the cowboy dream. After Betty passed in 2012 Wesley move back to Amarillo to be closer to family. Wesley never missed a chance to go to a family reunion, he always cherished his family. He also loved playing music. He never missed a chance to pay in a jamboree. He loved getting together with friends and entertaining others. He knew how to play the guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, or anything with strings. He never turned up an opportunity to use his talent in church as well. He performed for praise and worship as often as he could. Wesley wasn’t only known for his musical talents but his ability to create them. He built many guitars and violins for himself and others.

One of Wesley’s favorite stories to tell was the day he was born. His life here on earth has been a miracle since day one. When Wesley was born, let’s just say the doctor wasn’t completely sober and presumed he was not alive. The doctor sat him off in a window seal to tend to his mother Clara. Wesley’s oldest sister Leon didn’t give up on him so easily. She picked him up, wrapped him in a blanket rubbing him and stimulating him. That is when Wesley whimpered out a cry that forever changed the path of his life.

Wesley loved the holidays. Yes, he loved the significance of them but what touched his heart the most was the family time. Nothing touched him more than for everyone to come together. He would always look at all his family with such a sense of humbled pride. He was grateful for the legacy that he has created.

Our hearts are both filled with sorrow knowing we will not see him again here on earth but joy that he is home with the Lord, his wife, and his children in heaven. If ever there were a person who left a legacy behind to be remembered by, it’s Wesley and the love he had for life which he spoke of frequently with fulfillment and joy, his family that he poured so much love into, and the Lord whom he dedicated his life to. We rejoice in the knowledge that this is not goodbye, but we will see you later when we enter the gates of heaven, and you are there to greet us with your handsome smile and loving arms.