Mary Jean Thomas

Mary Jean (Melton) Thomas entered this world on November 10, 1946, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She passed away peacefully at home in Anthony, Kansas, from lung cancer on September 2, 2026, not long before her 80th birthday.

Mary was the oldest child of Weldon and Gloria “Butch” (Tornio) Melton. She was later joined by brothers Bob, Mark, and Jeff. Mary had fond memories growing up in Attica, Kansas. She attended school in Attica before graduating from East High School in Wichita, Kansas, where she competed at state in fencing.

There was nothing more important to Mary than family. Life provided her with a rich tapestry in that regard. Growing up she enjoyed time with her dad’s family in Oklahoma and cherished summers with her mom’s family in Wisconsin. She married Chris Elliott in 1963 and they welcomed three children, Mike, Tim, and Kelly. Mary always remained close to the Elliott family and worked with Chris’s parents, Vernon and Alleyne Elliott. Mary later married John Thomas on September 2, 1986; they shared their 40th wedding anniversary the day she passed. John blessed Mary with three bonus kids: Mandy, Jared, and Adam. Their blended family shared many adventures, from foot races and water fights in the yard, to camping and spending time at the lake. Mary and John created a “roadmap family”—you needed a roadmap to figure out who was who, and having the same blood was not a requirement.

In her younger years, Mary worked as a telephone operator at the phone company in Harper, Kansas, and at Mueller Brothers Clothing Store in Anthony before becoming a funeral director. She enjoyed working with family at Elliott Funeral Homes, including for a time with her sons Mike and Tim. Mary and John were partners even in work, creating Prairie Rose Funeral Homes and with their farming and cattle operation, J&M Ranch, and their farm store, the Farm & Ranch Hand. She was honored as the Kansas Business and Professional Woman of the Year in 1995 and with the Anthony Chamber of Commerce Business Legacy Award in 2015. Mary served generations of families through the funeral homes and enjoyed taking meals to the field during harvest. Both allowed her to spend time with family.

Mary always loved horses, from riding stick horses as a child to the real deal as an adult. She belonged to the Bluff City Saddle Club for many years and she, John, and the kids followed many happy trails on horseback. Mary had a sharp mind, honed by a passion for reading and learning. She regularly visited the library and instilled a love for books in her kids. She and her mom enjoyed doing cryptoquip puzzles together. Mary had music in her soul. She played clarinet in school, piano as an adult, sang in the church choir, and went caroling with friends, her kids, and grandkids. She passed a deep appreciation of music to her kids and their kids in turn. Mary especially cherished listening to her brother Bob play guitar and having sing alongs. She could always be depended on to dance, at a wedding or an impromptu dance party in the living room. It was not surprising she and John connected at a street dance. Mary also loved playing cards. Many hours and cups of coffee were spent playing the card game 500, where bragging rights were prized and trash talking was an art. Mary shared memories of watching her grandparents play when she was little, and she took immense pride in getting to play with her own grandchildren. A verve for life and unfailing kindness, compassion, and selflessness best describe Mary.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, including in-laws Vernon and Alleyne Elliott and Bob and Jean Thomas; her son, Mike Elliott; brother, Jeff Melton; and son-in-law, Ryan Mahoney.

Left here loving Mary are her husband, John; children: Tim Elliott (Gretchin Scott), Kelly (Elliott) Mahoney (Michael Hirschman), Mandy (Thomas) Duncan; Jared (Catherine) Thomas, and Adam (Katy) Thomas; daughter-in-law Andi (Billy) Giesen; grandchildren: Alex (Elliott) Fender (Nick); Max, Dexter, and Evangeline Elliott; Alice, Erin, and Elliott Mahoney; James, Nathaniel, and Jonathan Duncan; Justin Thomas (Ashley); Austin Thomas (Randi Hensley); Cauy Thomas (Myranda Berner); Zach Mast (Nicole); Kallie and Boston Thomas; Joel Dodgen (Cassie Reed), Caitlin (Dodgen) Borghoff (Caleb Coady), and Chloe (Dodgen) Harnden (Quinn); Aspen (Williams) Davis (Nathen) and Auni Williams; great-grandchildren: Logan and Collins Fender; Ren, Easton, and Brock Thomas; Laila, Jason, and Eli Dodgen; and Truett Borghoff; brothers Bob Melton (June) and Mark Melton (Tonya); sister-in-law Lisa Melton; five nieces and nephews; other family and countless friends.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony, Kansas with The Reverend Rebecca New officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery, west of Anthony.

Public Viewing and Registry will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The funeral home will close to the public at 6:00 p.m. so the family may have a private viewing.

Memorials in memory of Mary may be made directly payable to the Anthony Ministerial Association and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.