Darrell “Tom” Keith Thomas

Darrell "Tom" Keith Thomas

"Gone from my life forever, but never gone from my heart. Life is not forever, love is!"

Tom was born on August 1, 1942, in Shawnee County, the son of Ernest and Lillian Thomas. He passed away August 8, 2024, at the Midland Hospice House. Tom was born into a well-known farm family in the Dover, Kansas community as the youngest-"the baby"-of a family of four boys and three girls. He attended Dover Public Schools and graduated from Dover High School and Gene Blake School of Hair Styling.

A quiet man, Tom was a gentle and kind, self-made businessman. He was a farmer his whole life like his father-farming soybeans, corn, and for a while, cattle. As he would also say, he "cut hair for a living" on the side. Tom owned and operated many salons throughout Topeka over the years, including Indian Hills, Trendsetters and others.

Tom was a US Army Veteran and served his country bravely in Vietnam during the United States' involvement.

Tom enjoyed farming his land for many years, watching TV, marveling at beautiful sunsets, listening to the coyotes, playing with his dog Lulu, and he loved home-cooked meals. He was fiercely independent; he took pride in his physical fitness and lifted weights and walked on the treadmill and his land into his later years.

Tom is survived and will be missed every day by his loving fiancé of 26 years Connie Reynolds and their dog Lulu; Connie's three daughters-Melissa Flesher(Ryan);

Allison Pankratz (Scott); Malinda Hostetler (Brian);and 7 wonderful grandchildren-Tyler, Dylan, Mallory, Bowen, Kemper, Cru and Rhett. Tom is also survived by many nephews and nieces. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Gerald, Ronnie and Larry Thomas; and three sisters- Delores, Velma and Eula.

Tom has been cremated and as per his wishes, there will be no service. As in life a very private individual, those who knew him are invited to have their own personal thoughts and memories of their association with Tom through the years.

Memorial contributions in Tom's name may be made to the Down Syndrome Innovations;

Helping Hands Humane Society-Topeka, Ks; Midwest Kitten Coalition, Topeka, Kansas; and Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Ks.