Christopher John Thomas, the son of John and Debbie Thomas, was born April 4, 1990, in Wichita, Kansas. He passed away on March 7, 2016, surrounded by loved ones at his beloved family farm. He was 25.

Lovingly referred to as "Cj," he grew up in Meade, Kansas, with his older sister Jacqueline before moving to their farm located 5 miles southwest of Fowler, Kansas. From an early age, he became his dad's right-hand man while checking cattle, working fields, and watching the sun go down on a productive workday from the cab of a John Deere tractor. His deep love of farming carried into hobbies like horseback riding and roping, and like any good cowboy, all was done with a loyal cattle dog by his side. Cj was an active member of 4-H, his favorites being the Horse Project and Horticulture; he also earned the 4-H Key Award in 2007. He also enjoyed skiing with a black cowboy hat, traveling, and working on anything with a motor. He will be remembered for his immeasurable toughness, good nature, sense of humor, passion for living life to the fullest, and last but not least, his fearlessness. Despite his wild demeanor and occasionally comical school grades, he was an avid student of current events, history, politics, local farmland, and music. He would spend hours studying Ag-Talk, arranging, planning, and creating a celebrity status of himself amongst the other readers. Anyone who knew him, will likely never forget his crooked grin and the spark in his eyes, which he maintained until the day of his passing.

CJ graduated from Meade High School in 2008. The following fall, he enrolled in Garden City Community College and graduated in 2010 with an Associates in Applied Sciences/John Deere Technology. He returned to Meade County and started his business, Thomas Custom Hay. He also worked at Cargill Beef and Meade Feeders West.

CJ is survived by his parents, John and Debbie Thomas and sister, Jacqueline, all of Fowler, KS. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jack and Ruth Koster of Cawker City, KS; his Aunt Jo Koster-Dean, Beloit, Ks; paternal grandparents, William Keith "Tiny" and Kath Thomas of Bellingen, NSW, Australia; and his Aunt Michelle Thomas-Tucknott, Sydney, NSW, Australia. All who knew him, will remember him; and everyone who loved him, will be forever changed by his life and death.

The family would welcome memorials to the Hospice of the Prairie, Meade County 4-H, or Cancer Treatment Centers of America in care of the funeral home.