Richard Leroy Thomas, Jr.

Richard Leroy Thomas, Jr., went home to be with the Lord on July 8, 2023, at age 79 years old. He was born March 26, 1944, to Richard “Leroy” Thomas, Sr., and Aileen Doris Fisher Thomas in Searcy, Arkansas. After his father returned from the war, his parents and grandparents moved to Merced, California to start a new life. Richard attended Merced Public Schools and made many lifelong friends on Carol Avenue. Richard was very mechanically inclined and was offered his first job at age 13 after the owner of the company recognized that he had installed a gas-powered engine on his bicycle. He was a visionary that could design and build anything he set his mind to create. He built many beautiful pieces of woodwork from cedar. He worked in the family restaurant for most of his teen years where he met his first wife and the mother of his children. In the late 70’s his family returned to Arkansas, and he went on to work for many years in the industrial maintenance field as he was a natural Mr. Fix-it. Later in his career he chose to become an entrepreneur and open a shop with his son, Allen, named A & R Garage. They worked many years together as a team, with Allen learning the trade that would become his future career. Richard had a strong love for nature and the outdoors. During their time in California, he and his family spent most of their weekends camping at Lake McSwain or up in the mountains near Yosemite. He taught his children to respect nature and the necessary skills to survive. He enjoyed gardening, farming, woodwork, and hot rod cars. He loved his family more than anything else. He was a wonderful son, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother. All who knew him loved him. He was full of life, laughter, and wit even to the end. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, stepson Christopher, great-grandson Wiley, and many other loved and respected relatives and friends with whom he is now rejoicing. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Janice Thomas, his son, Allen Thomas (Ladonna), daughters Traci Thomas Niece (Hal), and Suzette Thomas (Adela), Step-Daughter Wendy Studebaker (Royce); grandchildren, Derek Baker (Heather), Richard “Ricky” Latimer (Tiffany), Hunter Niece, Addison Thomas, Heath Niece, and Jack Thomas. Seven great-grandchildren, Aidan, Sophie, Atkin, Haislee, Axl, Everleigh, and Waylon; brother Larry Thomas (Susan) and sister Rebecca Hollingshead along with many other loved family and friends. Visitation services will be at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy, Arkansas on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, from 6pm-8pm and he will be laid to rest in a graveside service on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023, at 10:00 am. at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Letona, Arkansas. Richard was a cancer survivor from 1986 and in gratitude to those who treated him and gave us an additional 37 years of life with him, the family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations to be sent in his honor to CARTI Cancer Center. This can be done online at CARTI.com or by mail to: CARTI, 8901 CARTI Way, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Richard Leroy Thomas, Jr.

March 26, 1944 - July 8, 2023