Mark Brandon Thomas

Obituary of Mark Brandon Thomas

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Mark Brandon Thomas, 63, of Weatherford, Texas, rode his final trail on November 8, 2025. A cowboy at heart, a horseman by trade, and a father above all else, Mark lived a life rich in grit, laughter, and love - the kind of life that leaves hoofprints on the earth and handprints on the hearts of those who knew him.

Born in Lubbock on October 22, 1962, to Mary Margaret and Clifton Maynard Thomas, Mark was raised with the values of hard work, humility, and heart. Mark attended school at Frenship High School in Wolfforth, TX, graduating in 1981. He then went on to earn an Agricultural Judging scholarship at South Plains College in Levelland, where he rode bulls on the Rodeo Team and judged livestock with a sharp eye and steady hand. He later graduated from Texas Tech University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Reproductive Physiology and a minor in Agricultural Education - a degree that reflected both his intellect and his lifelong devotion to horses.

Mark's career as a Quarter Horse trainer took him across oceans and into history. In 1988, he moved to Germany, where he spent two years introducing western riding and the American Quarter Horse to a new audience. He flew horses across the Atlantic, competed in shows across Europe, and left a legacy of horsemanship that still echoes in the barns and arenas he touched. One of his proudest moments came when he trained and fit a German-owned halter horse, First Class Finale, and took him to the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City - placing third in his class, a testament to Mark's skill, patience, and quiet determination.

But Mark's talents didn't end in the saddle. He was a gifted chef whose kitchen was a place of joy, flavor, and friendship. Friends lucky enough to be invited to his table still rave about his culinary creations - meals made with the same care and passion he brought to every part of his life.

A die-hard Texas Tech football fan, Mark didn't just watch games - he lived them. If you were in the room with him on game day, you'd need earplugs and a sense of humor. He cheered, coached, and occasionally hollered like he was right there on the sidelines, and he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Mark was also fiercely competitive - whether it was showing horses, urging the Red Raiders to victory, or playing the annual Thanksgiving Spades tournament with Susan's family in Tyler. He played to win, and he did so with every ounce of heart and humor he had.

Later in life, Mark's greatest joy came in the form of his daughter, Kristen. He and his wife Susan welcomed her a little later in life, and Mark often laughed when strangers mistook him for her grandfather. But he wore fatherhood like a badge of honor. He taught Kristen to love agriculture, just as he did - from early days in 4-H to showing swine in FFA, from handling horses to learning the quiet art of doing your best. He was her teacher, her cheerleader, her compass. And she was the pride of his life.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Margaret and Clifton Maynard Thomas, and his sister, Marilyn D'Aun Thomas. He is survived by Susan Koenig Thomas, their daughter Kristen Koenig Thomas, and his brother Morris Wayne Thomas (Cindy). In addition, a close-knit group of lifelong friends – Steve Swinford, Todd James, Tracy Bishop-Joeckel, Todd Wilson, Bruce Scott, Keith Hitt, Chris Jeter, Scott Goodson, Curtis Preston, and Benton Easter. Last but certainly not least, special family friend, Morgan Messinger.

He leaves behind a trail of stories, laughter, and love - and a reminder that a life well-lived isn't measured in years, but in the hearts that you touch along the way.

A Celebration of Life for Mark will be held at 589 Hickory BBQ Co., 2524 Azle Highway, Weatherford, TX. 76086 on December 7, 2025 @ 1:00pm. Although Mark was privately very proud of his own expertise in the kitchen, this was a restaurant he frequented and also his local favorite!

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations to be made to the Friends of Weatherford FFA Booster Club to the Mark B. Thomas Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 555, Weatherford, TX. 76086.

Venmo - @FriendsOfWeatherfordFFA