Keith Michael Thomas, 44, left this world on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017 at 9:15 a.m. after a battle with Pancreatic cancer, the same disease that took his father last December.

He was born January 28, 1973 to Roland and Sharon (DeLaFrance) Thomas. He had been a Vermilion resident since 1977. Keith graduated from Vermilion High School and EHOVE in 1991.

Keith was a chef by trade having been employed by Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant, Westlake, and several area nursing facilities, retiring from Gaymont in Norwalk this past July.

He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church,Vermilion and was the man behind the puppet shows with the St. Mary School Students. Keith’s true passion was writing. He was published internationally in three languages. He had been signed by D.C. Comics in 2013. His final, creator owned work will be published posthumously.

Keith loved Halloween and had been a member of the Haunted School House since the age of 12, first under the guidance of Lowell Whitten and his son, Mitch. At age 21, Keith was appointed chairman of the Haunted School, a post he served until 2004. He was probably best known for his “Halloween House on Mapleview” each year for probably 30 years. He always had a game of skill for the trick-or-treaters to compete for prizes. He drew in 200 to 250 kids and parents each year. He was entertaining second generation participants now. Keith was also a popular panelist for Wizard World and enjoyed Star Wars and comic books and was a Boy Scout in his younger years.

His family deeply appreciates the care he received from his long time companion Barbara McCormick and his faithful caregiver, Billie Jo Houghtlen, and the Staff of Mercy New Life Hospice.

Keith is survived by his mother, Sharon “Sherry” Thomas; Uncles and Aunts, Jerry and Lynda Kozar and John G. and Roberta DeLaFrance of Lorain and Claude and Nancy Wood and Salvatore and Sandi Tramontana of Amherst; his Cockatoo bird, Ozzie; and numerous cousins and family friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roland Mathew Thomas; sister, Constance “Connie” Thomas; maternal grandparents, John and Betty DeLaFrance; and paternal grandparents, John H Thomas and Juanita Pong.

The family will receive guests at St. Mary Gathering Space, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion, OH on Thursday, October 19, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m.

Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.