CONWAY — Ian Christopher Thomas,

was a gift from God to his loving parents, Nick and Gina Thomas, born on August 3, 2001, in Conway, Arkansas. Ian left his earthly home due to complications from Addison’s Disease on May 1, 2022, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Along with his loving parents, Ian is survived by his paternal grandparents, Bill and Sharon Thomas of Wooster; by “Granny Jean” Stone of Cabot; and by his aunts and uncles: Allan Stone of Hot Springs; Chuck and Alicia Stone of Columbus, Mississippi; Rodney Thomas of Little Rock; Jeff and Melissa Thomas of Centerton; Terri McIntosh of Humphrey; Crystal and Josh Fann of Cabot; Gary and Blake Davidson of McKinney, Texas; David Davison of Star City; Shane Cranford of Little Rock; Daniel Felts of Little Rock; Dale Walden of Eureka Springs; and David and Beth Thomas of Conway. He is also survived by his cousins Matthew, Lynn, Magan, Brennan, Jordan, Jonathon, Michael, Jamie, Jeremy, Dallas, Nixon, Gage, Gunner, Kayleigh Ann, Sabrina, Natalie, Braxton, Daegan, Kingsley, Chloe, and Bradon, as well as great-aunts and uncles, including Sherry and Gene May of Florida and Pat Martin and family of Conway. Ian was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Dickie Stone and Lucille Stone.

Ian was loved deeply and adored by his parents and extended family and was loved and respected by his friends, his church family, teachers, choir directors, and fellow choir members. He was known for his kind heart and his generosity. His willingness to help others at every opportunity was a blessing to those who knew him. Ian was a life-long member of Grace United Methodist Church and participated in the church youth group and children’s choir. He attended Conway Public Schools and was a graduate of the Class of 2019. Although he played the cello in orchestra, Ian’s true calling was vocal music. God gifted Ian with an amazing voice. He was chosen to participate in the UCA Voices of Central Arkansas (VOCA) choir in the fourth grade and continued to sing with that choir until he graduated from high school. Through VOCA, Ian had the honor and privilege of performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City and Orchestra Hall in Chicago. He sang in both the Conway High School Choir and the Conway High School Camerata Choir and was named Outstanding Senior Vocalist in spring 2019. He was chosen to participate in All-State Choir and was selected to sing in the 2018 Honor Choir for Southwest American Choral Directors Association Conference in Oklahoma City. He also studied Choral Music while attending Arkansas Governor’s School in the summer of 2018. Ian was a junior at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. His studies would have led to his earning a Bachelor of Music Education (Voice Emphasis) degree, and he planned to teach music upon graduation. Ian also planned to further his education and acquire master’s and doctoral degrees.

At ASU, he was a member of the Honors College Association and was an Honors College Ambassador and on the A-State Honors Director’s List. He was 2022-2023 President-Elect of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Omicron Omega Chapter and had served as Committee Man-at-Large. He held positions of Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the A-State Chapter of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and served as a member of the Arkansas ACDA Intercollegiate Council. He also sang with the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church choir in Jonesboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace United Methodist Church Youth Program (Conway), A-State Music Department’s Choral Program (Arkansas State University, Jonesboro), or Arkansas Children’s Hospital (Little Rock). Visitation will be Sunday, May 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Funeral services will be Monday, May 9, at 11 a.m., at Grace United Methodist Church in Conway.