John Merlin Thomas

Memorial services for John Merlin Thomas, 59, Bonner Springs, will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Basehor United Methodist Church.
Mr. Thomas died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, Mo.
He was born Dec. 30, 1950, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of Merlin and Dorothy Hawkins Thomas.
Mr. Thomas served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a diesel mechanic for Palmer Trucking, Bonner Springs, and also worked for Harley-Davidson, Meyer Dairy and Miles Excavating.
He was a member of Basehor United Methodist Church. He enjoyed restoring old pickups, cars, motorcycles, hunting and antiquing.
He married Janie Patrick on Nov. 22, 2008, in Tonganoxie. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include his mother, of Basehor; a daughter and son-in-law, Molly and Andrew Crews, Bonner Springs; a stepdaughter, Kelli Patrick, Lenexa; a brother, David and significant other Lanny Rake, Basehor; three sisters, Rosalie Withers, Shawnee, Linda Aufdemberge, Basehor, and Dotty VanMol and husband Dave, Bonner Springs; and a granddaughter, Avery Crews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rhonda Kim Palmer Thomas, in 2000.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church.
The family suggests memorials to the Avery Crews Education Fund, sent in care of First State Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 219, Tonganoxie, KS 66086.
Online condolences may be sent at quisenberryfh.com.