Russell Jay Thomas

Rusty Thomas left his earthly home unexpectedly on Thursday, April 3, 2025. He was 59 years old. He was born on May 8, 1965 to his parents E.L. "Pete" Thomas and Juanita Rader Keys in the Claremore Health Center. Rusty was saved and baptized during a revival at Foyil Baptist Church in 1977 along with his brother, Randy and stepfather Sam.

He attended West Side school in Claremore during his early school years, and then Sequoyah Public Schools until graduation in 1983. He worked in Claremore for a while but later ventured to the East Coast and worked for Chili’s restaurants in North Carolina and Connecticut, helping to build their cabinets. His next employment was in new home construction in Naples and Fort Myers, Florida. His real love was race cars and fishing in the ocean. He opened his own business in Cape Coral, Rusty’s Cylinder Heads for anything from lawnmowers to high-performance offshore race boats. This was his calling as he was a perfectionist in this line of business. He moved back to Claremore in 2006 where he continued repairing cylinder heads in his own shop here.

Rusty dearly loved his dogs. He was very particular about keeping his lawn manicured, even though riding the lawnmower was tough on his injured back. He always kept the grass short and looking like a golf course.

He was preceded in death by Sam Keys, stepfather grandparents, Willard and Elgin Rader and Jay and Marie Thomas; step-grandparents C.L. “Duck” and Velma Keys all of Claremore.

Rusty is survived by two daughters, Virginia “Ginny” of Florida and Shara of Ohio; Grandchildren, Julia, Mason and Easton; Great grandchildren Elanor and Margot all of Ohio; father E.L. "Pete" Thomas and stepmother Debi; mother Juanita; brother Randy Thomas, and wife Christi; nephew Blake Thomas and wife Kymberly and their children Lexie and Bennett; niece Katie Duke and Husband Ian, and the children, Kinley and Addalee all of Claremore; Aunts Bessie Biswell and husband Johnny, Bonnie Schulze and husband Huey, and Dodie Mayes all of Claremore. He also leaves behind a host of friends. Rusty will be missed and loved forever by so many. He lived his life to the absolute fullest.

View and sign Rusty’s online memorial at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com