Rev. Elmo A. Thomason

He was born in Mt. Vernon, Ark., to the late Walter and Hassie Thomason.

Rev. Thomason received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hendrix College and a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University. He served as a United Methodist minister for 72 years.

During his career he served numerous churches in Arkansas, preached at churches in England and Central America, and served as a District Superintendent and Program Council Director for the United Methodist Church in Arkansas.

He was a delegate to Jurisdictional, General and World United Methodist Conferences, and he served as a Trustee of Hendrix College. He also served on many district and conference committees and boards of the church.

He was a 50-year member of Kiwanis Inernational, a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He always enjoyed being with family, ministerial friends and traveling.

He also was preceded in death by one brother, Wesley, and his sister, Virgie Thomas.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Irma Bookout Thomason; a son, Dr. Dana A. Thomason and wife Martha Farris-Thomason of Russellville; his ex-daughter-in-law, Cathy Pierce Thomason of Conway; foster son, Simon Bookout and wife Paula of Little Rock; grandchildren, Jonathan M. Thomason of Alexandria, Va., and Amy Bookout Christie and husband David, and great-grandson, Nicholas Philip, all of Ascot, England; two sisters-in-law and many nephews and nieces.

A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in Rector at Woodland Heights Cemetery with Mitchell Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Conway with Rev. Charles Murry officiating.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Arkansas United Methodist Foundation Seminary Scholarship Endowment Fund, 5300 Evergreen Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Those who wish to sign the online guestbook may do so at www.mitchellfuneralhomes.com.