Friends and family mourn tragic death of young husband, father

Ozark Countians were saddened last week to learn of the death of former Ozark County resident Cody Thomas, 26, as the result of a Feb. 27 car crash on Highway 65 near Bellefonte, Arkansas.
Thomas, a 2010 graduate of Gainesville High School, was the son of Wasola-area residents Steve and Sheila Thomas and the grandson of E. J. and Faye Hampton. He and his wife, Maggie, lived with their two young children in Gassville, Arkansas.
According to the Arkansas State Police online report, the crash occurred at 6:36 a.m. Feb. 27 when Thomas was northbound on Highway 65 south of Harrison, Arkansas, in a 2010 Ford Focus behind a 2005 Toyota Camry. A southbound 2008 Chevy Silverado “crossed over the turn lane and into the northbound lanes,” according to the report. The Silverado struck the Camry on the left side, and that impact caused the Silverado to then strike Thomas’ vehicle head-on.
The other two drivers were identified in a Harrison (Arkansas) Daily Times story as Mary Hafner, 38, of Everton, Arkansas, driving the northbound Camry in front of Thomas, and Cody Johnson, 24, of Harrison driving the southbound Silverado. Both were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and were later released, according to the Daily Times story.
A report on ozarksfirst.com said Thomas was on his way to work in Springfield, where he had recently taken a job at an insurance agency.
A Cody Thomas Memorial Fund has been set up at Century Bank of the Ozarks, with all donations going to Maggie Thomas and the couple’s two children.  Donations to the fund may be dropped off at the bank or mailed to Century Bank, P.O. Box 68, Gainesville, MO 65655. The family has expressed thanks “for the prayers, love and support from everyone in this unbearable time.” Thomas’ obituary is on page 8 of this week’s Times.