EDDIE LEON THOMASON
Eddie Leon _omason, age 86, of Paducah, Texas, passed away Dec. 6, 2025, in Paducah. Eddie was born on June 8, 1939, in Celina, Texas to Esther Pearl (Nance) and Ores Harris _omason.
Eddie was a 1957 graduate of Celina High School, where he remained a proud fan of the Bobcats his whole life, listening to Mark Kissinger’s Friday night football broadcasts every week of the season. He married Phyllis (Perry) _omason on Sept. 1, 1961, starting their lives together and bringing their two daughters, Diana and Donna, into the world. Eddie worked in machine maintenance for Texas Instruments and received an award for innovating processes used by the company. He retired in 1999, a year after the birth of his third granddaughter, spending the next years of his life becoming “Grandaddy.”
Eddie traveled all over the state of Texas to support the activities that his granddaughters, Stephanie, Mandy and Leslie, participated in. Whether it was a golf course in Austin, a marching band event in Lubbock and even once up to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., Grandaddy and Grandmama followed the girls everywhere. _ey provided hugs and snacks to keep them fueled in everything they did. In 2012, Eddie and Phyllis moved from Celina to Paducah to be even closer to all three girls to continue supporting them and being a consistent part of their lives. He loved rooting for the Paducah Dragons and the Texas Tech Red Raiders in every sport.
Eddie was involved in many organizations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 65 years and a Past Master and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a Past Patron. Eddie was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Celina and then, in Paducah after moving. He also served on the Celina Independent School District School Board. Eddie was an avid hunter, and he especially loved hunting dove and quail and watching Phyllis hunt white tail deer.
After his wife, Phyllis, passed away, Eddie continued to spend any time he could with his family and created a community of friends for himself that went out for meals together. He could often be found at Whitaker’s Cafe every morning, having breakfast with a small group of people or by himself, talking with Ruby and Gloria from the kitchen.
He is survived by his daughters, Diana Mayo and husband Cary and Donna Price and husband Gregg; grandchildren Stephanie Riley, Mandy Mayo, Leslie Mayo, Christian Price and wife Jenna, Cole Price and wife Brittany and Kirsten Smith and husband Skyler; and great-grandchildren Karson, Kenedi, Paisley and Brenna.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis _omason, and his parents.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, at Paducah Methodist Church, followed by interment at 2 p.m. _ursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Cottage Hill Cemetery, Celina. Arrangements were under the direction of Zapata Funeral Home.
