Ellsworth Hinton “Snooks” Thomas, 79, of Tollesboro, passed away Sunday morning, December 8, 2019, at Meadowview Regional Medical Center in Maysville.
He was born March 11, 1940, in Lewis County, a son of the late William Hinton and Velma McNutt Thomas.
Snooks was a member of Tollesboro Christian Church and was a lifelong tobacco and cattle farmer. He was a Kentucky Colonel and member of St. Mary’s Lodge #240 of Tollesboro where he was a 32nd-degree Mason. Snooks managed tobacco warehouses in Maysville, was an avid collector of Case XX knives and enjoyed trading and selling them for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Quinn Thomas; two sons, Brian Thomas of Maysville, and Daniel Thomas (Michelle) of Tollesboro; two daughters, Mary Taulbee and Kim Ripato (Mark) of Tollesboro; eight grandchildren, Colton Ripato, Cody Ripato, Kera Brown, Kerri Brown, Jenna Thomas, Declan Thomas, Hanna Thomas, and Alexa Thomas; one great-granddaughter, Brynalee Quinn Leslie; two brothers, Gary Thomas (Dora) and Dennis Thomas (Sue)of Tollesboro; four sisters, Nickie Applegate (Clinton) of Tollesboro, Christi Moffett (Charlie) of Lawrenceburg, Kelly Thomas of Maysville, and Wilda Tee Werline of Orleans, Indiana. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 12, 2019, at Tollesboro Funeral Home and Cremation Services with Bro. Al Bane, Bro. John Byard and Bro. Layne Wagner officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Friends may visit from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 11, 2019, and after 9:00 a.m. Thursday at Tollesboro Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 11918 KY 57 at Tollesboro. A Masonic service will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday by St. Mary’s Lodge #240 of Tollesboro.
Pallbearers will be Wes Thomas, Lee Thomas, Trevor Applegate, Travis Applegate, Colton Ripato and Sammy Applegate. Terry Thomas, Bob Bane, Alan Bane, Howard McCann, Denny Hornback, Bob Moore, Greg McKee, Wendell Ray Applegate, Dallas Thomas, Daymond Thomas and Larry Hull will serve as honorary pallbearers.
