Michael Ray Thomas, a man of courage, faith, and unwavering love for God and his family, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on February 21, 2026, at the age of 70, surrounded by family in Columbia, Mo. Born on September 24, 1955, in Batesville, Arkansas, Michael’s life was defined by service to others, a quest for adventure and enough creativity and genius to achieve a lot of his dreams.
From his early years in law enforcement and police work in Saline County, Mo., to the moment he landed his first jet flight on the USS Enterprise as a US Navy pilot, his dreams were bigger than life.
The things you don’t know about Mike could fill a book – but God knows. For example, Mike piloted the US Navy aircraft shown in the first aerial film sequences of the original “Top Gun” movie in 1986. Afterwards, he and other Navy pilots sat across from Tom Cruise in the mess hall of the Enterprise and shared dinner and flying tales. As a young flight student in Pensacola, Florida, he was honored to wear his dress whites and escort contestants in the Miss Universe Pageant down a different kind of runway. Later in life, he led bodyguard details for the likes of celebrities such as Sarah Palin. In his creative moments, he built and flew his own airplanes, drones, boats and every mechanical contraption one mind could conceive. He was a certified Navy diver and spent many years teaching dive lessons and running “Mike’s Dive Shop” by the square in Marshall, Mo.
In addition to his years in the Navy, he served as a police officer in the Marshall, Missouri Police Department and many years as a bail bondsman. After being brought into the field by his beloved uncle, Greg Billingsley of Shackelford, Mo., he then mentored many bondsmen and trained them for licensure via his online “Thomas Training Institute” and in-person workshops. His service to the community was later expanded with his deep commitment to Masonry and its charitable causes. Following the tradition of his grandfather, J.E. Thomas of Evening Shade, Arkansas, Mike entered Masonic work with enthusiasm. He served in numerous leadership roles at Trilumina Lodge #205. He was a 32-degree Scottish Rite Mason and a distinguished leader of the York Rite and Knights Templar in Missouri.
Michael loved his family with fierce loyalty and shared his knowledge of hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He continued the tradition of farming the land, set for him by his own parents, Dr. John and Pauline Thomas, now looking down from heaven. With a genuine devotion to God and the Bible, Mike lived his faith by helping others in the community. He was a historian and delved into archival resources to research his family’s ancestry and his country’s greatest moments. He was deeply patriotic and loved America. Most memorable of all, Mike could spin a tale and captivate almost any audience.
Mike was a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend whose legacy lives on in the lives he touched. He is survived by his former wife, Kathy Thomas, of Camdenton, Mo., and three children – Jennifer Michelle Doss (Chris) of Carrollton, Mo., John Michael Thomas (Heather) of Columbia, Mo. and Connor Seth Thomas (Sarah) of Marshall, Mo. He is also survived by his fiancé, Brandiss Jackson, and her children, Colton, Georgiana and Jordiyan, whom he loved as his own.
He is the grandfather of Chase, Jayce, Chloe and Crissa Doss of Carrollton, Skylar Doss of Tightwad, Ruth Imogene and John “Jack” Emerson Thomas of Columbia, Mo., and Van Wyatt Thomas of Marshall, and. He is also survived by 2 great grandchildren.
He is also survived by one sister, Alesia Thomas Thayer (Randy) , of Shelbyville, Kentucky, two uncles, Greg Billingsley (Dana), of Shackelford, Mo. and Van Carlton Thomas, Batesville, Ark.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He lived with this scripture dear to his heart: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Phillipians 1:21.
In the end, Mike’s final flight was not in one of his many personal airplanes, but to the presence of his Savior. He is remembered not just as a Navy pilot, law enforcement officer or Mason, but as a man whose life was a tribute to faith, service to others, and an eternal hope to join his parents, family and Jesus Christ in heaven.
Masonic services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2026, with funeral services following at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Marshall Trilumina Lodge #205, Arrow Rock Masonic Lodge # 55 or your local church. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com