Thomas Russell Cain

Thomas Russell Cain was born to Russell and Alma Cain in Cedar Point, KS, June 19, 1937. He passed away peacefully at the age of 87, and entered into the gates of Heaven on September 28. His loving wife of 66 years and 5 months, sons, and daughter in law were there by his side. 

Tom graduated from Cedar point High School May 1956, Cedar Point, Kansas, and was united in marriage to Doris Jean Miller on April 6, 1958, at Hebron Lutheran Church, Burdick, KS.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a degree majoring in Biology and Physical Education at Emporia State University Teachers College, Emporia, KS, January 1960 and was qualified to teach both in elementary and secondary schools. He also attended Wichita State University, graduate school, Wichita, KS. He was a graduate of Famous Artists School.

Tom taught 5th/6th grades at schools in Salina, Emporia, Chapman, Talmage, Centre School District (Lost Springs) and Wichita, KS, for 24 years. He also was a school bus driver for several years. During his teaching career he worked with the Teachers Association Negotiation Team. He was also a leader of Boy scouts for a number of years while teaching school.

After retiring from teaching, Tom worked for PizzaCo, a franchise of Pizza Hut, as a manager/regional supervisor for 12 years in McPherson and Abilene, KS. During this time, he was a photographer for weddings and did portrait drawings. He was very skilled at landscaping, building homes, and painting signs. Tom helped build several Bell & Howe communication satellites, two were housed in Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX. All built to ¾ scale.

He was very active in the Kansas Kairos Prison Ministry and led several retreats in the Hutchinson, KS, prison facility. Promise Keepers was a big part of his life, and he led and participated in many Emmaus Walks in Kansas. He also served on several church boards.

After retiring from Pizza Hut, he and his wife moved to Little Rock, AR, to be a part of their youngest son and his wife’s growing family, which proved to be pure joy. He worked part time at the Eagle Hills Golf Course in Little Rock.

One of his all-time favorite things to do during retirement and especially as he grew older, was being an avid reader of books on many different topics; Art, History, Science, Bible, Political, Nature, informational and travel along with listening to all types of 40’s, 50’s, 60’s music, and watching movies. He was fluent in knowing all of the singers and all of the names of the actors in movies.

He enjoyed being an amateur painter and dancing was also one of his favorite past times.

He and his wife loved to travel as much as possible. His all-time favorite place was Branson, MO, and Silver Dollar City at Christmas time. All the lights, beauty and splendor of it were such a delightful time for him.

Tom was very kind, considerate, loving, and a generous man. He loved his family deeply, appreciated and enjoyed nature and being outside. He took great pride in all his family and the multitudes of friends in Kansas and Arkansas.

He is survived by his wife, Doris, of the home; two sons, Rick (Kathy) of Wichita, KS, and Randy (Suzanne) of Little Rock, AR; a sister, Willa Mae Laughlin Boise, ID; 5 grandchildren, Nathan (Libby) Cain, Wichita, KS, Justin (Taylor) Cain, Blue Springs, MO, Mallory Cain, Nashville, TN, Emma and Harrison Cain, Little Rock, AR; 6 great-grandchildren, Piper, Sullivan, Conrad, Aubree, Nash, and Crawford; 3 sisters-in-law/ brothers-in-law, Delores (Al) Fisher, Carol (Riff) Riffel, Herington, KS, and Phyllis (Fran) Haefner, Amarillo, TX; many nieces/nephews, great-great nieces/nephews; and a host of friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; 3 sisters and 4 brothers-in-laws, Bertha (Ralph) Linnens, Eula (George) Williams, Roberta (Jim) West, and Wayne Laughlin. 

Visitation will be held 4:00-6:00 PM 10/11 at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock AR. Funeral service will be held the following day 10/12 at 2:00 PM at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home. 

A Celebration of Life will be held 10:00 AM Saturday 10/26 at Hebron Lutheran Church Burdick, KS, with inurnment in Hebron Lutheran Cemetery. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Arkansas Hospice Ottenheimer Inpatient Center of Michelle Brannen or Hebron Lutheran Church, Burdick, KS.

Arrangements made by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home.