Clifford Eugene Thomason was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, on October 10, 1936, to John Earl "Buck" and Myrtle Mae (Warren) Thomason and departed this life on November 24, 2008 at the age of 72 years, 1 month and 14 days. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 29 at the Atkinson Chapel in Harrisonville, MO. Friends may call 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, November 28 at the chapel. Burial will be in Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, MO.

The Thomason family moved to Altus, OK and then to the Sentinel, OK area where Cliff graduated from Port School in 1954. Cliff studied air conditioning and refrigeration at Oklahoma City University. He moved to the Kansas City area in 1958 where he worked in his field of study and as a union pipefitter until his retirement in 1996.

On June 25, 1960, Cliff was united in marriage to Lavonne Rogers and to this union two children were born, Rhonda and Wayne. The family lived in south Kansas City and Peculiar, MO while the children were growing up and then in retirement, Cliff and Lavonne moved to the Garden City, MO area. Cliff obeyed the gospel at an early age and remained faithful until his death at which time he was a member of the Harrisonville Church of Christ. One of his special joys in life was singing gospel songs.

Cliff enjoyed being outdoors and observing nature. He grew particularly fond of Missouri's landscape, lakes and trees; he and his wife spent many days and nights camping and fishing. Cliff was an avid fisherman and gardener, and he took pleasure in sharing his catch and his garden produce with others. Each grandchild's favorite memory of Bawpaw is fishing with him.

Cliff was quite creative in his shop the last few years; he designed and built several items for the grandchildren and others. He was constantly modifying equipment or tweaking something so it would do a better job. He was skillful working with metals. He was a talented handyman and applied those talents around the place and at the church building.


Cliff was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Lavonne, of the home; a daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Dean Johnson, Paris, MO; a son, Wayne Thomason, Sacramento, CA; four grandchildren, Cole, Shelby, and Connor Johnson and Hunter Thomason. He is also survived by a brother and his wife, Don and Joy Thomason, Raytown, MO, their three children, and other relatives.