Thara A. Fontelroy, 56, of Parsons, passed away at 9:47 p.m., Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at his home.
Thara Anderson Fontelroy was born on March 13, 1965, to Walter H. Fontelroy, Sr. and Claretha E. (Ponds) Fontelroy in Parsons. He grew up in Parsons and attended McKinley and Guthridge Grade Schools, Parsons Junior High School and graduated from Parsons High School in 1983.
Following high school, Thara attended Labette Community College and worked at Katy Station for a time before moving to Coffeyville and then Lawrence, where he worked at Mr. Steak. He then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend culinary school. For several years, Thara continued living in Atlanta and was employed as a chef at the Marriott. Due to ill health, he returned to Parsons in 2000 to be closer to his family.
He was a member of the Pleas Chapel Church of God in Christ, now Watson Memorial, in Parsons. One of his greatest joys and talents in life was cooking. He also enjoyed playing basketball and golf and was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Survivors include:
One daughter – Tiera Cochran of Atlanta, Georgia
Two grandchildren
His mother – Claretha Fontelroy of the home
Five brothers – Ronald Fontelroy of Houston, Texas
Dennis Fontelroy and his wife, Tietha, of Wichita, Kansas
Mark Fontelroy and his wife, Carol, of Gulf Port, Mississippi
Albert Joseph Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
David Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
Five sisters – Retha Davis and her husband, Gary, of Los Angeles, California
Michelle Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
Beatrice Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
Evangeline Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
Christine Fontelroy of Parsons, Kansas
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Fontelroy, Sr.; and four brothers, Walter Fontelroy, Jr., Carl Fontelroy, Michael Fontelroy and Phares Fontelroy.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 20, 2022, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call to sign the register at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.