Mr. Clifford Odell Thomas, 71, of Reeds, Missouri departed this life on Thursday evening, April 19, 2012 at the Sarcoxie Nursing Center in Sarcoxie, Missouri after a recent decline in health. Clifford entered this life on January 25, 1941 in Leesville, Louisiana to the late Odell and Georgia Lucress (Burnett) Thomas. At age nine he moved with his family to a farm near Wheaton, Missouri. He graduated from Wheaton High School in the class of 1958. On April 28, 1958 he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Dodson and to this union two daughters and two sons were born. He and Mary made their home in Joplin, Missouri before moving to the state of Texas. After a few years they returned home to Missouri and for twenty years they resided in Marionville. They have resided in Reeds since 1998. Clifford worked in sales for both Hiland Dairy and the Quinn Coffee Company before beginning a twenty year career as an over-the-road truck driver. He also worked ten years for Buterball and later retired from Schreiber Foods in Mount Vernon, Missouri. Clifford was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Reeds, Missouri where he also served as Deacon. His parents and one son, Michael Odell Thomas preceded him in death. Clifford is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Mary Thomas of the home; two daughters, Melissa Blankenship and husband, Roger, of Marionville, Missouri and Diana Allspaw and husband, Jim, also of Marionville; a son, Jonathan Thomas and wife, Christine, of Reeds, Missouri; ten grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; a sister, Edna Haynes and husband, Bill, of Monett, Missouri; a brother, Hal Thomas of Monett, Missouri; as well as a host of other family and friends. Funeral services for Mr. Thomas are 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 22, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Reeds, Missouri with Bro. Michael Ford and Bro. Gene Needham officiating. Burial will follow in the Dudman Springs Cemetery near Reeds, Missouri. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are Clifford Blankenship, Dale Blankenship, Kyle Baker, Nathan Beaver, John Thomas, Nick Shiveley and Jacob Thomas. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.housh-goodwinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, Missouri.