Mark Francis Thomas, beloved son, husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend joyfully entered the gates of heaven at 6:42 p.m. on December 5, 2017 at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington, KY. Born in Henderson KY on January 22, 1962, Fran was the youngest of four children of Dorothy Ann and Paul Roger Thomas. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Lester and Edna Henshaw, paternal grandparents, Herman and Antha Thomas, father, Paul Roger Thomas, and niece, Miranda Carol Thomas.

Fran is survived by his wife of 27 years, Liza Gwenn White, daughter, Anne Chandler, and son, Mark Francis, Jr. He is also survived by his mother Dorothy Ann Henshaw Thomas of Morganfield, KY, one brother Paul Roger (Dava) Thomas of Owensboro, KY, sisters Patricia Ann (Pat) Lilly of Morganfield, KY and Carolyn Jean (Doug) Plummer of Richmond, KY, father-in-law, Jack Langdon White of Marathon Key, FL, in-laws Andrew James and Scarlett White Ryan of Winchester, KY, Ratomir and Rosanne White Veljkovic of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, five nieces Laura (Mark) Vincent of Owensboro, KY, Claudia (Ben) Johnson of Chieri, Italy, Jerrianna (Dennis) Kelly of Nashville, TN, Langdon Ryan (Preston) Worley and Sydney Ryan (Grant) Owen of Lexington, KY, five nephews Jack White Veljkovic of Lexington, KY, Christopher Lilly of Henderson, KY, Mitchell (Brittany) Thomas of Woodlands, TX, Paul (Seomi) Rhye of Busan, South Korea, Jordan Rhye of Elkhart, IN, four great nieces and three great nephews, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Fran attended grade school at St. Ann School in Morganfield, KY where, along with his two best friends, cousins, and partners in crime, Vincent and Don, he participated in much mischief. He was a 1980 graduate of Union County High School and went on to attend Madisonville Community College before completing a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. While attending the University of Kentucky, Fran worked part time for United Parcel Service and quickly moved into management taking him to a position in Owensboro, KY.

Fran and Liza were married in August 1990. In 1993, the couple moved to Manchester, KY where he worked in sales at White Chevrolet-Pontiac. In 2001, the family re-located to Winchester, KY and he joined the Andy Ryan Nissan team. Most recently, Fran was employed by Kentucky Farm Bureau as an agent in Clark County. His career with Kentucky Farm Bureau gave him an avenue to continue his life long love of farming and community by supporting Future Farmers of America and countless local events. It was common to spot Fran sporting a blue apron, behind the grill at school, political, and charity fundraisers and at the Clark County Fair judging competitions ranging from livestock and farm implements to 4-H speeches.

Fran was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Morganfield, KY. He was affiliated with Manchester Baptist Church in Manchester, KY and First Christian Church in Winchester, KY. He was a member of the Winchester Country Club where he had the opportunity to pursue one of his greatest loves, the game of golf. His friends know him as a fierce competitor who would show no mercy to any opponent. Next to golf, his second loved sports were hunting on his farm in Trapp, KY and fishing from Canada to the Florida Keys. The people closest to him would vouch that he had an ability to imitate animal calls that made his entire family proud. He was feared and respected as one of the best dove shots in Kentucky from Union to Clark County.

In the realm of sports, Fran had no problem letting anyone know that he was a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan, an even bigger St. Louis Cardinals fan, and, on occasion, a Louisville Cardinals fan but not if the Cardinals were playing the Kentucky Wildcats.

Of all the loves in his life, first and foremost, Fran loved and adored Liza, Chandler, Mark, and of course, his dog, Snipper. Our loss is truly heaven’s gain.

Visitation will be held at The First Christian Church, 24 East Hickman Street, Winchester, KY 40391 on Saturday, December 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with a service to follow at 1:00 p.m.Following the service, a celebration to remember Fran will be held at Clark County Farm Bureau, 115 South Highland Street, Winchester, KY 40391. The family is requesting donations to the American Cancer Society, 1640 Lyndon Farm Court #104, Louisville, KY 40223. Envelopes will be provided by Scobee Funeral Home.