Stuart F. Thomas, 89, of rural Keosauqua, passed away Nov. 2, 2009, in the hospice unit of Van Buren Good Samaritan Center, Keosauqua, after a short battle with cancer. He was born Oct. 31, 1920, in Wapello County near Eldon to Carl H. and Lena V. Lynch Thomas. He married Doris M. DeVault June 22, 1941, at her parents' home in rural Selma. Stuart graduated from Eldon High School in 1939. The Mr. and Mrs. Thomas lived in Wapello County prior to moving to their present farm home north of Lebanon. He was a member of Eldon Christian Church and Celestial Lodge No. 413, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Douds. Stuart was an avid basketball player in high school and walked to and from school before and after games. He worked driving a truck during the construction of the Ottumwa Naval Air Station during World War II. Stuart and Doris raised registered Milking Shorthorn cattle for several years and showed them at the Dairy Cattle Congress in Waterloo, Iowa State Fair and several local county fairs, winning several grand champion awards. He ran the Soil Conservation Service terracing machine for Van Buren County in the 1950s, served on the U.S. Department of Agriculture County Committee and plowed in district and state plowing matches throughout Iowa. He was a member of the Republican Party and ran for county supervisor. He enjoyed restoring old Massey-Harris Tractors, woodworking and helping family and neighbors. Surviving are his wife, Doris; two sons, Ivan of Douds and Melvin (Judy) of rural Keosauqua; a daughter, Shirley Tedrow (Wayne) of Cantril; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, William of Bloomfield and Robert (Iola) of Eldon; a sister, Evelyn Faye Everly of Bloomfield; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Alice Thomas; a brother, Stanly Thomas (Gertrude); brother-in-law, Rex Everly; and nephew, Leonard Thomas.Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Pedrick Funeral Home, Keosauqua; Rev. Jerry Caughron and Rev. Wes Thompson officiating.

Published in the Ottumwa Daily Courier from 11/3/2009 - 11/4/2009