James C. Thomas

James Cleve Thomas was born on January 22,1955 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was reared by his mother, Mrs. Letha Hawthorne-Roe and his stepfather, the late Mr. Benjamin Roe. James accepted Christ as his savior very early in his life. Growing up, he had the opportunity to live and attend schools in both North Webster Louisiana and Kansas City, Missouri. He was a 1974 graduate of Springhill High School in Springhill, Louisiana.

In 1979, James enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served our country for four years. As a Staff Sergeant, he was a well-respected soldier and member of the CSC 1/72nd AR Scout Platoon-19th Delta Calvary Scouts.

James married his high school sweetheart on August 4th, 1979. After his honorable discharge in 1983 from the army in Fort Benning, Georgia, James relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. He was employed by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and retired as a Senior Mail Courier after 32 years of service.

James was known as a talented athlete by his family and friends. Basketball and football were his favorite sports to play. He was a member of the BT Express basketball team of Cullen, Louisiana. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends watching and discussing sports. He had a gift for retaining sporting statistics of his favorite teams and players. James was an avid Michael Jordan, New York Yankees, and Las Vegas Raiders fan. He was very detail oriented, disciplined, kind, gentle and patient. These attributes were reflected in every aspect of his life as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend. James treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. He was a man of amazing courage and integrity. He taught his family the concept of how to courageously fight a tough battle and to never, ever give up.

James was preceded in death and will be graciously greeted at the gates of Heaven by his grandparents, stepfather, several uncles, aunts, sister, a nephew, and several special cousins and relatives.

James leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 42 years, Lenette Rene’ Thomas of Grandview, Missouri; two sons Jason Cavell Thomas (DeAndrea) and Christopher James Thomas, of Grandview, Missouri; mother, Letha Hawthorne-Roe of Kansas City, Missouri; brother, Kenneth Roe of Kansas City, Missouri, granddaughters, Jazlynn Rene’ Thomas, Jadynn Camille Thomas, and Jordynn Nicole Thomas; mother-in-law, Irissie Thomas of Cullen, Louisiana; and a host of loving relatives and friends.