Murrell J. Thomas

Murrell J. Thomas, 90, of Orrick, Mo., passed away at his home on February 3 2017. His daughter, Lois Stein, and Al Stein, his grandson, were by his side.

Murrell was born October 7, 1926 to Murrell C. and Lura Thomas in Breckenridge, Mo. He had two sisters, Mary Lou and Hazel, and one brother, Jimmy, who all preceded him in death.

Murrell was a part of the Greatest Generation. He served in the Army Air Corp. At the end of W.W. II he was present during the Nuremberg war trials in Germany and guarded some of the prisoners on trial there. Like many others he did not talk about the war much. He did sometimes talk about the German people he met who suffered and survived and how grateful they were for the American soldiers who were there helping them after the war. Murrell was proud of his service to his country.

Murrell married Patty Rose O’Dell on January 7 1945. They had five children, Everett Thomas (1945-1963), Teresa Thomas (1947-2003), Roger Thomas (Denice), Lois Stein (Margo), and Mark Thomas (Denise) (1955-2014). He is survived by his grandchildren, Al Stein, Jennifer Thomas, Liz Klausman, Patty Stein, Jason Thomas, Joshua North, Matthew Thomas, and Tick Thomas, 23 great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. There are also several nieces and nephews that lovingly called him Uncle Murrell.

For many years Murrell, along with his best friend Gene Roe, was a member of the Orrick Lions Club, where he held several offices. He was proud to be a member and enjoyed activities like working at the fireworks stand, selling brooms, riding in Orrick’s homecoming parade and throwing out candy. He and Gene attended many regional and state Lions Club meetings together.

Being a member of the Orrick Christian Church was one of the most important parts of Murrell’s life. He and Patty Rose started attending the church in the early ‘50s when they moved their family to Orrick. As the family grew they were all eventually baptized into the Orrick Christian Church. Murrell was a deacon and an elder in the church and on the church board. He was very proud of being the superintendent of the Sunday school for over 60 years. You could always count on Murrell to greet you when you came in the door on a Sunday morning. He loved the church and loved the people there.

He also was a member of the Richmond VFW.

A visitation will be held from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 6, 2017 at Orrick Christian Church with a funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at South Point Cemetery.

Arrangements are through Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.