Sylvia Carolee (Johnson) Thomas, 89, died at the Gove County Long Term
Care in Quinter, Kansas, on Friday, October 23, 2020. She was born near
Sharon Springs, Kansas to Charles and Iola Johnson. She was the youngest
of five living siblings; two sisters died before she was born. Sylvia
grew up mostly in Colorado and Kansas, and she attended school in Hoxie.
She also attended Lincoln Bible College in Illinois.
Sylvia loved children, and was never far away from them. One of her
most meaningful experiences as a young adult was working at a children’s
home in Tennessee. She often referred to the things she saw and the
lessons she learned there. In fact, she named one of her daughters after
a girl at the orphanage.
Although she said she would not marry a farmer, that is just what
she did on October 19, 1958, when she married Dean Leroy Thomas of
Hoxie. The couple lived on the farm southeast of Hoxie. Sylvia stayed
at home with the children, and later worked in the Hoxie Grade School as
a cook for several years.
Sylvia was an active and devout Christian. During her life, she
attended the Christian Church, the Church of Christ, and also Mt.
Pleasant Baptist Church, where she was a member at the time of her
death. She cooked and baked for countless funeral dinners, weddings, and
pot lucks. Additionally, she was involved in the Eastern Star for
several years. Raising three girls was a full time job, but she found
time to sew, garden, read, play board games, visit the neighbors, and
grow beautiful house plants. Sylvia was a dear, trusted friend to many.
She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She sang hymns and
popular songs, and often led singing at church camps or Vacation Bible
School.
Sylvia is preceded in death by her husband Dean; parents Charles and
Iola Johnson; brothers Charles, Ray, and Jay; and sisters Ruby
(Johnson) Harrison, Ethel (Johnson) Clear, Wilma and Ruth Johnson.
She is survived by her three daughters Carolyn (Howard) Nelson;
Bonnie Galloway; and Linda (Dean) Cranston; grandchildren Melissa (Kelo)
Turner, Jeremy Freeman, Joshua (Miranda) Freeman, Caleb (Alli)
Galloway, Lexus Hooks, Jessica Mecham, and Samantha Mecham;
great-grandchildren Jadyn Ware, Ava Thomas, Kayla Thomas, Kortlyn
Turner, Leilani Freeman, Brooke Lynn Freeman, Josiah Freeman, Isaiah
Burns, Tristan Williams, and Wesley Hopkins, as well as nieces, nephews,
cousins, and friends.
A funeral service is planned for Saturday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m.
at the Mickey Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Kansas. Visitation will be
held Friday, November 6, 2020 from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the
Funeral Home. Words of comfort may be left at
www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com