Henry Thomas

Funeral services for Henry Morgan Thomas, 78, of Many, were held April 6 at First United Methodist Church of Many. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. He was born February 13, 1939, in Camden-Fairview, Arkansas, to Henry Cornelius Thomas and Alta Berry Thomas. He passed away April 1, 2017. He graduated from Neville High School in Monroe in 1957. While at Neville, he was active in athletics. Henry graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1962 with a degree in Forestry. He retired from Georgia Pacific Corporation as Lumber Operations Manager of its Central and Eastern Operations. While employed with Georgia Pacific, he was a pioneer in the field of high-speed small log manufacturing. He served on the Executive Board of Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the AD&N Railroad and First State Bank of Crossett, Arkansas. Mr. Thomas received the Georgia Pacific Distinguished Service Award, the Vice President of the Mid-Continent Division Award, and listed as Who’s Who in American Business. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Many. Henry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gail Sawyer Thomas; children, Joseph Henry Thomas and wife, Vee Sally Thomas Maloch and husband, Layne, Wesley Morgan Thomas and wife, Cindy, Sharon Thomas Meyers and husband, Derek, and Karen Thomas Highland and husband, Kevin; 13 grandchildren; brother, Joseph Berry Thomas and wife, Mary Lynn; stepsister, Mary Eva Bagwell; brothers- in-law, Tom Sawyer and wife, Barbara, and Roger Chapman and wife, Charlene; sisters-in-law, Verline Olinde and husband, Al, CarolCostello and husband, Mike, and  Maria Butler and husband, Mike; a host of nieces and nephews; special sisters, Jane Temple Johnson and Carolyn McCormick Myrick as well as a special mother, Sally Hines, of Monroe and daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Terry Reeves. Pallbearers were Pete Abington, Tommy Joe Andres, Hilton Ebarb, Bob Groves, Calvin Jones, “Butch” Gloyd Martin, Larry Rhame, Charles Richey, Bart Rumsey,Shelly Wiggins Honorary pallbearers were Billy Dan Files, Georgia Pacific Lumber Mill Managers, and the 1957 Neville High School State Championship football team.