Earl Thomas, Jr. was born August 6, 1948, in Houston, Texas.
He passed away at the age of 75 on May 14, 2024, after a very
sudden decline in his health. His final years of life were
challenging and plagued with health complications resulting
from his ongoing battle with brain cancer.

Earl was a loving husband to Ouida Thomas for 34 years. They were
married on March 26, 1989, and were blessed with three children: one son,
Rodney Hickman and two daughters, Tonya Hickman and Heather
Beauford.

Earl was a lover of the arts and enjoyed music, photography, drawing, and
fashion. He was always very ambitious and started shining shoes at the
age of 8 years old using a box made by his uncle. It was his love for shiny
shoes that helped foster his love for fashion. He was never afraid to push
the envelope with his fashion choices and was known for his colorful
wardrobe and exotic array of dress shoes and clothing.

Earl Thomas was drafted into the United States Armed Services in 1969
and served as a cook until 1971. He cooked meals for over 400 troops a
day during his tenure and served during the Vietnam War. Earl left the
military and became a "jack of all trades", working in numerous fields
from medical to engineering and transportation. He worked at several
companies including T.I., Xerox, Ben Taub and Wynne Transportation.
He ended his career at Plano Independent School District where he worked
as a School Bus Trainer for nearly 2 decades and was known for his
patience and kind-hearted approach to teaching others.

Earl was a true lover of Jesus and enjoyed sharing his testimony with
others even during difficult times. He was a pillar in the community and
always fed the homeless and served as a member of the Shiloh Missionary
Baptist Church choir. He never met a stranger and would spark up a
conversation with almost anyone.

Earl Thomas was known for his great sense of humor and his ability to
make people smile. He was an avid sports fan who loved the Dallas
Cowboys, Mavericks and any team his grandchildren played on. He always
encouraged each of them to "believe in [themselves], keep God first and
shoot for the stars." When he wasn't spending time with family, you could
find him detailing cars, mowing the lawn, or happily tackling his "honey
do" list. He had the cleanest cars in town and kept everything he owned in
immaculate condition. Earl was a symbol of excellence and motivated
others to always give their best.

Earl's memory will forever be cherished by his grandchildren, Ashley,
Rodney, Whitney, Holland, Hannah, Chase, Joshua, and Haley; great
grandchildren, Elijah and Jaxson. Earl is also survived by his sisters, Hilda
Meyer, Ida Anderson and Alfreda McBride and his brother, Kenneth
Thomas.

Earl became a widower 9 months ago after the passing of Ouida, his
soulmate. He was also preceded in death by his mother, Jimmie Lee
Gentry; father, Earl Thomas Sr.; sister, Ronda Jean Thomas; and brother,
Lawrence Thomas.

Earl Thomas, Jr. was one of a kind and truly made an impact on this world.
He will truly be missed and remembered by all who were blessed to have
known him.