Obituaries

Floyd Mattison Thomas, Sr.

Photo of Floyd Mattison Thomas, Sr.
Floyd Mattison Thomas Sr., 90, of El Dorado, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Parkway Health in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born August 30, 1923, to Loyd Jones Thomas and Goldie Melissa Roden Thomas in Monett, Missouri. After graduating from McGehee High School, he served his country as a Staff Sergeant in World War II. Floyd was proud of his participation in the liberation of the death camps in Europe at the end of the war. After the war, he returned to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to complete a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in education. He was a member of the 1946-1947 Arkansas Razorbacks, the first Hog team to go to the Cotton Bowl. They played in a snowstorm to a scoreless tie against LSU. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers but elected to stay in Arkansas to coach football for the Paris High Eagles. Floyd was a career agent for the FBI. After retirement from the FBI, he was assistant director and later director of the Law Enforcement Training Academy in East Camden. He was extremely honored to be appointed chairman of the 13th Judicial District Jail Standards Committee. After leaving the Academy, he worked as a private investigator. He was a Mason, and he loved hunting, fishing, woodworking and bragging about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his parents; two brothers, Clinton Henson and Billy Ray Thomas; and an infant brother, James Thomas. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Beulah Lee Campbell Thomas of El Dorado; two sons, Floyd M. Thomas, Jr. (wife Rina) of El Dorado, Frank Thomas (wife Sylvia) of Little Rock; daughter Melissa Whitfield (husband Scott) of Little Rock; a sister, Hortense Auerbach of Maryland; eight grandchildren, F. Mattison Thomas III, Gregory M. Thomas, Stephanie Thomas, Jessica Thomas, Lauren Thomas, John Thomas, Adam Whitfield and Benjamin Whitfield; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor Thomas, Emma Grace Thomas and Lily Thomas. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, July 18, 2014, at Young's Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2014, at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado under the direction of the Reverend Keith Dodson. There will be a private burial with military honors prior to the service. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 South Hill Street, El Dorado, Arkansas, 71730. An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.

Published July 18, 2014

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