Fred Thomas

Clarence `Mr. Fred` Thomas, 73, Cumberland Furnace, died Sunday, March 2, 2008, at his residence. The funeral will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church with Rev. David Mackens and Rev. James Shepherd officiating. Burial will be in Lone Oak Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 noon - 8 p.m. Wednesday at McReynolds-Nave & Larson and from 12 noon until the hour of service Thursday at the church. McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born February 13, 1935 in Montgomery County, son of C.T. and Lela Spann Thomas. Mr. Fred attended Montgomery Central Elementary School, Montgomery Central High School and Austin Peay State University. He completed his education and graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and then returned to his alma-matter in 1958 and began a teaching career that lasted 38 years. Mr. Fred was the Vocational Agriculture Instructor and Future Farmers of America Advisor for 38 years and Senior Class Sponsor for 35 years. He developed the Nature Trail and Outdoor Classroom at MCHS with the help of Miriam Young. He was the girls basketball coach for 30 years, retiring at the end of the 1997 season. He was also the coach of the girls softball team. He maintained the MCHS School Farm year round and maintained the baseball, softball, football and soccer fields. Mr. Thomas was a member of Oak Lane Baptist Church, served as secretary for the Central Civitan in the early 60's and was the first president of the Clarksville Montgomery County Education Association. Fred's hobbies included hunting, gardening, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed being on the water with his fishing buddy Norman England. Mrs. Jean was his loving wife for 54 years, they became sweethearts in the eighth grade and were each others best friend from then on. Mrs. Thomas also worked at MCHS and raised a family with Fred. Mrs. Jean faithfully and enthusiastically attended countless ballgames, traveling on cold school buses to sit on hard bleachers. Mr. Fred and Ms. Jeans family of five grew to an extended family of thousands. In 1997 the gym at MCHS was named the Thomas-Young Memorial Gym in honor of Fred Thomas and James Young. This was a moving tribute to Mr. Thomas and his entire family. When Mr. Fred was asked if he had a good day his answer was always, "Everyday is a good day, some are just better than others." Survivors include his wife, Jean McWhorter Thomas; son, David Fred (Teresa) Thomas; daughters, Patty Jean (David) Foster, Tammy Dawn (Tim) Poe, all of Cumberland Furance; He was "Pappy" to five grandchildren, Cory Alyssa Thomas, Adam Thomas Poe, Jonathan Blake Foster, Callie Melissa Poe and Connor Laine Thomas. Pallbearers will be Norman England, Jimmy Young, Tommy Castleberry, Phillip Horsey, Steve Hagewood, Johnny Head, Doug Jolly and Todd Dunn. Honorary pallbearers will be John Atkins, Jerry Ellis, Bruce Wilson, Tom McWhorter and Paul McWhorter. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Fred Thomas Girls Basketball or FFA Scholarship Fund, c/o Kim Herndon, Montgomery Central High School, 3955 Highway 48, Cunningham, TN, 37052.