Recent Obituaries

Farrel Arthur Thomas, 75, passed away at his home in Seattle, WA, Sunday, March 24, 2019. He was born February 2, 1944 in Chehalis, WA, to Arthur and Naomi Thomas of Silver Creek, WA. He was a Mossyrock High School Class of 1961 graduate. He played on the Mossyrock Vikings baseball team that won the Lewis County Eastern Division in 1960.

Farrel worked with his father on the Silver Creek farm, bred and trained Arab and Quarter horses while working at a variety of farm and construction jobs in Lewis County. He had many friends who shared his love for fast cars, horses, water skiing and hunting.

After graduation Farrel trained as a Diesel Mechanic and moved to the Auburn area where he worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator/Mechanic for contractors building SR167 Highway in the Renton/Kent/Auburn Valley from 1967-1976.

Early in his life he had high expectations and worked diligently toward those goals. Multiple injuries took his life onto a new and challenging path. He used his past experiences and masterfully reinvented himself into a success in his own right. He reached his ultimate goal of being famous and internationally known as “Twister Thomas”, Balloon Master, an Icon at The Pike Place Market in Seattle. For nearly 25 years he twisted balloon characters for thousands of Market visitors, from around the world, entertaining, building relationships, bringing smiles and laughter from many who crossed his path each day. He was on television, published and photographed in the Seattle Times, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Pike Place Market Newspaper.

He was a member of the Robert Morris Masonic Lodge No. 97, Silver Creek, WA (Past Master, 1976); Afifi Temple of Tacoma (World Famous Shriner Clown); Pike Place Market Performers; Clowns of America International, Groundhog International and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Naomi (Tucker) Thomas. He will be missed by many friends from Seattle and the Pike Place Market, his Mossyrock Class ’61 Classmates, sister, Carole Thomas Wiskirken, niece, Angela Wiskirken (Ajit), nephew, Kyle Wiskirken, grand-niece Kali and a host of cousins in the Pacific Northwest.

Robert Morris Masonic Lodge No. 97 will conduct a Graveside Service at Noon, April 27, 2019 at the Salkum Cemetery, Salkum, WA. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Salkum Fire Station, 2495 US-12, Salkum, WA 98582. A Memorial Celebration at Pike Place Market will be held at Stewart House, 80 Stewart Street, Seattle, WA 98101, Date to be determined.

Donations to: Pike Place Market Neighborhood Care Health Clinic, Development Dept., 1200 12th Avenue South, Suite 901, Seattle 98144