Christopher Y. Thomas Jr.

1923 - 2022

Christopher Y. Thomas Jr., M.D.
September 7, 2022
Prairie Village, Kansas - Christopher Y. Thomas, Jr., M.D. peacefully passed away at the age of 98 in the early hours of September 7th, 2022, surrounded by family. We are heartbroken and miss him dearly, yet we cherish the blessing of having him in our lives for so many wonderful years. He was born in 1923 in Kansas City and was raised in Pittsburgh, Kansas. He would later return to Kansas City where he became recognized as a pioneering surgeon and visionary leader at Saint Luke's Hospital for 33 years. His legacy continues to make an impact on Saint Luke's, the medical community at large, and new generations of physicians.
Dr. Thomas, also known by family, friends and colleagues as Tommy, C.Y., or Chris, was gifted with great talent and a passionate drive to serve others. He attended the Universities of Kansas and Colorado as an undergraduate and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1948. He completed an internship at the University of Utah and a surgical residency at the Cleveland Clinic. Following his medical training, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Medical Corp. serving from 1952 to 1954. Shortly thereafter, he joined the surgical staff at Saint Luke's hospital, eventually becoming Chief of Surgery and President of the Medical Staff. Dr. Thomas believed deeply in the value of research and in the importance of medical education. He was a founding trustee of the Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation for Medical Education and Research, providing various opportunities for professional development to include the CY Thomas Lectureship Series, named in his honor. He was very active in community professional associations serving as president of the Kansas City Surgical and Jackson County Medical Societies, and the Medical staff of Children's Mercy Hospital. Moreover, he was a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and awarded emeritus membership in the Metropolitan Medical Society following his retirement in 1989.
Dr. Thomas was a very principled man, respected for his work ethic, integrity and his deep devotion to the wellbeing of his family and others. He expressed these values throughout his professional and personal life, as a physician, an involved member of the community, and as a husband and father. Such discipline, combined with his innate and acquired talents and a driving curiosity led to a full life of diverse pursuits, overcoming major challenges to attain his goals. Inspired by the need to improve treatment of critically ill kidney patients, he constructed and introduced the first hemodialysis machine to Saint Luke's Hospital and the surrounding region in 1956. With a keen vision for future innovation in the field of medicine, he later helped secure the first heart-lung machine for Saint Luke's the following year. In 1969, he performed the first successful kidney transplant in Kansas and Missouri and later was a founding member of the Midwest Transplant Network (formerly the Midwest Organ Bank).
Despite the demands of his profession, he managed to find time for family and the pursuit of a wide range of hobbies and interests. He was an expert fly fisherman and shared his love of the sport with his children and life-long friends. Another area of interest was tracking international markets, so much so that he began publishing his own monthly newsletters which provided novel analysis of market trends. He was an avid amateur radio operator enthusiast, making contact with other radio operators around the world long before the advent of the internet. In retirement, he discovered his love for watercolor painting. Through this hobby, he formed close friendships with instructors and fellow students. The subjects of his paintings reflected his love for nature with colorful skies, mountain ranges, and golden prairies complimented by barns, old churches, marinas and sailboats.
Dr. Thomas was married to his wife Barbara for 55 wonderful years and together they had four children. Barbara passed away in 2001. He subsequently remarried Carol Reynolds in 2009. Her presence in his life was a true blessing. The two were inseparable and shared a happy life together. His children express their sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Carol for her immeasurable contribution of bringing joy back into his life.
Dr. Thomas is survived by his wife Carol Reynolds Thomas; sister Elizabeth Shafer; sons Dr. Christopher "Kim" Thomas (Becky), Gregg Thomas (Karen), and Jeff Thomas (Crystal); daughter Anne Thomas (David); step sons Brian Reynolds (Cindy), Sean Reynolds (Kate), and Robin Reynolds (Vanessa); grandchildren Nathan Thomas (Lisa), Emily Feiner (Ben), Rod Thomas, Nicholas Lopez, and Zachary Lopez; step grandchildren Misty Morreyn (Caldin) and Sierra Reynolds; nieces Susan Deaton (Rick) and Sarah Dickey; nephews JB Dickey (Gretchen), Tom Dring, and Chris Dring (Kay). He is preceded in death by his parents, Christopher Y Thomas, Sr. and Dorothea Engel Thomas; sister Dorothea Dickey, and his first wife, Barbara Ann Barcroft.
Services will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church on Tuesday, September 13th at 3pm, 5400 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS 66208, (913) 432-5573. Reception will immediately follow services at the Kansas City Country Club, 6200 Indian Lane, Mission Hills, KS 66208, (913) 362-8103.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the CY Thomas, MD Lectureship Fund through the St. Luke's Foundation, 901 E. 104th St., Kansas City, MO 64131, (816) 932-2252 or to the Midwest Transplant Network, 1900 W. 47th Pl. #400, Westwood, KS 66206, (913) 262-1668.
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