O'Neal Thomas

O’Neal ‘Lightning’ Thomas, 80, of Paragould, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. He was born July 3, 1939, to I. E. and Marie Thomas. O’Neal worked at Emerson Electric and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved taking hunting trips to Colorado. Above all, he loved and cared for his family.

O’Neal was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean Thomas; infant brother, Ervin Thomas; brother, Buddy Thomas; sisters, Alma Lou Cole, Louise Fry, Earline Ward, and JoAnn Johnson; step brothers, Tom Hatcher and Cliff Hatcher; and step sisters, Sarah White and Marie Hubble.  

Survivors include his stepsons, Donald Gene Bagby and Tony Wallace; stepdaughter, Rebecca Fisher; sister, Wyona Clement; ten step-grandchildren; one step great-grandchild; and special nephew, Rick Ward.

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 20, from 11:00 a.m. until service time at Phillips Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Center Hill Chapel of Phillips Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery.

Steven Hill, Cruz Hill, Rick Ward, William Wallace, Jonathan Mathis, and Michael Fisher will serve as pallbearers.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.