‘He was like our anchor’: Father and chef Larry Thomas, dies at 68
Larry Thomas dedicated much of his life to the kitchen. Growing up in Tallulah, Louisiana, with several younger siblings, he took on the responsibility of preparing nutritious meals for his family. Through the food he served, he expressed his love and care. This passion carried into adulthood, where he transformed his culinary skills into a career focused on nurturing others through food.
His daughter, Rosie Warren-Thomas, cherishes some of her earliest memories of spending quality time in the kitchen with her father, where he taught her valuable cooking skills.
“He loved to cook for people and he always wanted to make sure his family ate good,” said Warren-Thomas. “He loved to cook and loved making dishes with gravy. Smothered steak, smothered chicken, he smothered everything.”
Thomas, the executive chef at Benilde Hall Rehabilitation Center, passed away on September 17 at the age of 68 due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ongoing heart trouble.
Warren-Thomas says that, despite her father’s long battle with COPD, his death came as a shock, as he had been in good spirits just days earlier. He passed away only ten days after his birthday, which he celebrated surrounded by family which is where, according to his daughter, he found his greatest happiness.
“He was very present in all of our lives and would always ask me to bring my kids over to see him,” said Warren-Thomas, 30. “That is all he ever wanted and all he ever asked for. I think it made him proud to see what he created.”
Warren-Thomas recalls how much her father valued family and the importance of making time for loved ones. Whenever conflicts or disagreements arose among her and her siblings, he was always there to mediate and strengthen their bonds. With the family still grieving the death of their patriarch, Warren-Thomas sees that people are only now realizing how much he centered the family unit.
“He was like our anchor, he kept us connected and on track,” she said.
His daughter thinks that what she will miss most are the daily conversations with her dad. Warren-Thomas, an herbalist and business owner, would receive calls throughout the day from him, asking about her life, her two children, and her business.
For Warren-Thomas, her father’s support was a crucial factor in her business success. Although he initially didn’t fully grasp the all-natural lifestyle that her store, Nature Made Me at 3900 Paseo Blvd supports, he consistently encouraged her to work hard and believe in her abilities.
“He really was my biggest supporter,” said Warren-Thomas. “The most important thing he taught me was resilience and to be strong yet flexible. He taught me how to be a hustler and he gave me that go-out-and-get-it energy.”
As Warren-Thomas opened the doors to her physical location her store for the first time at the beginning of the month she felt a bittersweet sense of accomplishment knowing her father wasn’t there to witness it. However, she finds comfort in the fact that he consistently expressed his pride in her and her siblings throughout their lives.
The mother and entrepreneur is committed to keeping her father’s memory alive by sharing his lessons with her own children. She hopes to spend quality time with them in the kitchen, teaching them how to cook, and as they grow older, she aims to support them in discovering their identities.
“He was generous, kind-hearted and everybody loved him,” said Warren-Thomas. “He was an amazing dad and a great grandfather who really loved his grandkids.”
Other remembrances
Rita Marshall
Rita Marshall, a teacher, died September 30. She was 81.
Marshall was born on Nov. 21, 1943, to Alrice Alwin and Eulala Berry in Kansas City, Kansas.
She graduated from Sumner High School and earned at bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University where she studied to become a teacher.
Marshall taught at various Kansas City Public School District schools including Woodland Elementary and Wendell Philips School before becoming principal at Troost Elementary School. She worked in education for over 40 years until her retirement in 2006.
She is survived by her brother, Brent Albert Berry, along with a host of nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Fredrick Barnes
Fredrick Barnes, a United States Marine veteran and truck driver, died Sept. 19. He was 89.
Barnes was born on April 20, 1935, in Byromville, Georgia to Georgian and General Barnes Jr. He was the seventh of their 11 children.
He and siblings grew up on a farm where the family raised livestock and grew crops. In 1951 his parents sold their farm and moved to Kansas City, Kansas where Barnes graduated from Sumner High School.
Barnes then enlisted in the United States Marines where he served 3 years, was stationed in Japan as a machinist, and took up the hobby of karate.
After completing his service, he returned to Kansas City where he went to trade school to earn a diploma in auto and diesel mechanics. He began working for himself as a truck driver and later became a member of the Owner Operator and Independent Driver Association board of directors. He retired from work after 60 years.
He is survived by three siblings, Hiawatha McKenzie, Paulette Hare, Hope Hill and General Harold Barnes; along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and other friends.
