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Herschel Franklin Thomason of Bismarck went to his heavenly home to be with his Lord on January 29, 2009. He was born October 23, 1931 at the South Central Community near Arkadelphia, the son of John Fletcher and Eunice Whitley Thomason. He was a member of the DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church near Bismarck. Herschel was a master electrician and helped many churches in this area with his wiring skills. He retired after 33 years of service from the Patterson plant of Reynolds Metal Company. He was in the Arkansas National Guard, serving at Fort Polk, LA. On April 12, 1952 he married Mae Elizabeth Watkins of Arkadelphia. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Carroll and John Rush Thomason and by three sisters, Grace Cooley, Hazel Brosman and Lucille Sams.

Herschel is survived by his loving wife, sweetheart and caretaker, Mae Thomason, two sons, Terry (Sherry) Thomason of Bismarck and Frank (May Lynn) Thomason of Des Arc, one daughter, Felicia (Terry) Hardage of Bismarck, four grandsons, Jeremy (Erin) Thomason of Conway, Jacob Thomason of Searcy, Joshua Thomason of Conway and Joseph (Haley) Thomason of Searcy, one granddaughter, Courtney Dixon of Bismarck, two great grandsons, Hayden and Jackson Thomason of Searcy, two step grandsons, Brian (Bridget) and Rodney Hardage of Hot Springs, one step great granddaughter, Alexis Hardage of Hot Springs, and two more great grandchildren on the way, two brothers, Charles (Judy) and Cecil (Shirley) Thomason of Bismarck and two sisters, Jean (Bob) Cansler of Bismarck and Edith Lee of Tennessee, along with several nieces and nephews.

Family visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Welch Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the DeRoche Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Troy Bray and Bro. Chris Morrison officiating. Burial will be in the DeRoche Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jeremy, Jacob, Joshua and Joseph Thomason, Brian and Rodney Hardage, Courtney Dixon, and Vincent, Mike and David Thomason. Honorary pallbearers will be his former fellow employees of Reynolds Metal Patterson plant, the staff of Arkansas Heart Hospital, Dr. C D Williams, Dr. Todd Gammill, Dr. Lawson Glover and Dr. Scott Erwin.

Memorials may be made to the DeRoche Cemetery Fund, C/O Carl Hardage, 2199 Hwy 128, Bismarck, AR 71929 or to the AHS Class of 1954 Scholarship Fund, C/O Jodie Wyatt, 609 North 14th Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

The family would like to give special thanks to everyone for their support during his lengthy illness.

Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the online guest book and view the video tribute.