Cheryl Sue Thomas, age 78, of Harrisonville, Missouri, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. Funeral services will be held at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 7:00 PM, following a visitation at 6:00 PM. Graveside services will be held at Crown Hill Cemetery in Sedalia, MO, on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM.
Born on April 1, 1947, in Sedalia, MO, to Harlen Dwaine and Betty Jane (Sirks) Holtzclaw, Cheryl grew up in the Missouri area where she graduated from Raytown High School with the class of 1965. Cheryl dedicated her career to the real estate industry, serving as an Executive Assistant at Block and Company on the Plaza. Her professionalism and dedication left a lasting mark on her colleagues and clients alike.
On December 26th, 1966, Cheryl married William “Bill” Thomas, in Oklahoma. Together they shared a joyful life filled with dancing, bowling and their passion entering their classical Mustangs in car shows. After Bill's passing, Cheryl continued to embrace their shared interest in attending car shows with her grandson, Tristan, creating new memories while honoring the past.
A member of the Tennessee Walker Horses Association, Cheryl found joy and solace in riding horses. She was known as the “fun grandma,” always ready with a smile and warm embrace, she had a unique talent for making her grandchildren feel loved and cherished. Her strong-willed nature, sense of humor and touch of stubbornness endeared her to those around her, reminding everyone that love can be both playful and resilient. She was a remarkable woman whose spirit will live in the hearts she touched.
Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Bill Thomas. She is survived by her daughters: Christine (Loran) Freeman and Angie (Eric) Tucker; her sister, Jeanette Brown; her brother, Charles (Diane) Holtzclaw; 5 grandchildren: Ashley Campbell, Nichole Hicks, Tristan Campbell, Tyler Wheeler, and Marissa Wheeler; as well as, 10 great-grandchildren. Each of them carries a piece of Cheryl's vibrant spirit and the love she so generously shared.
