“We laugh a lot—and make a lot of fun working at Celebration City,” says Thomas Thomas. “The park is for grandchildren, grandparents, and teenagers. Most parents are busy working, so we see a lot of grandparents bringing kids.”

Kate’s Cookies and Cream, where Thomas holds the title of chief ice cream maker, is the last ‘bastion’ in the park—the last place guests stop as they depart. Often Thomas and Neoma are in their station until 11:00—an hour after the park officially closes. They wave goodbye to kids and families with a home baked cookie in one hand and a waffle ice cream cone in the other.

The Thomases are in their second year at Celebration City, but in their first year to work together in the ice cream shop. Last summer, Neoma washed dishes at Kicks 66 BBQ Grille and Thomas worked alongside another ice cream maker at Kate’s Cookies and Cream. When the former ice cream maker did not return, Thomas begged him to at least work three months and train him to make the creamy concoctions.

“But the man said, “Me and God made the ice cream, and I think you and God will do fine!” Thomas says with a twinkle in his eye.

Typically, the Thomases work from 1:00 until 6:00, but when they are shorthanded, they work more days or longer hours. Neoma serves ice cream and cookies and makes Kate’s Cake, which is Branson’s #1 dessert. She describes the flaky pastry she piles high with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Neoma and Thomas both bake the cookies and brownies served in the shop.

Thomas makes the ice cream, creating a few variations of his own on the tried and true recipes. Into the basic vanilla mix, he stirs in different ingredients such as strawberry puree, to come up with different flavors. Next, he pours the rich creamy liquid into canisters, snapping on lids with paddles that churn the ice cream in a machine that slowly turns as its gears and belts creak. Just like Grandma used to do on her back porch, he lifts off the lids and scrapes the paddles. Next, he dumps the soft-frozen cream into plastic tubs to place in the freezer and harden before dipping into cones or bowls.

Officially, the Thomases are retired—Neoma as an instrument specialist, calibrating transmitters, receivers, air samplers, and radiation surveillance equipment, and Thomas from the clergy. However, Thomas, age 75, says as long as his health holds—and gas doesn’t reach $7 a gallon—he plans to continue making ice cream at Celebration City. He says: “When God called me to the ministry, he didn’t ask, ‘Now what year do you want to retire?’”

On Sundays, Thomas conducts church services at Compton Ridge, the campground that serves as home to the full-time couple during the summer season. Yet, Thomas says his real congregation is Celebration City.

“We enjoy working with our team at the ice cream shop and meeting all the hundreds of guest that come through in a season,” he continues. But when the first leaf turns orange, the Thomases pack up their Class A coach and head for the warmer climate of Quartzsite, Arizona. In fact, their co-workers, Earl and Sandy Womack, representing Silver Dollar City (Celebration City and Silver Dollar City are properties of Herschend Family Entertainment), first interviewed Thomas and Neoma for their Celebration City jobs at the big RV Show in Quartzsite. At that time, the Thomases worked during January and February in the ice cream tent for the numerous shows under the big top at Quartzsite every winter.

Passes to the shows and attractions are a bonus for working in Branson. “Neoma kept track of the shows we saw in the months of April and May,” Thomas says. “She figures their tickets would have cost $1300. Of course, we spend for popcorn, drinks, and souvenirs when we go to the shows. That’s our way to pay back to the Branson businesses.”

Earl and Sandy Womack, full-timers for six years, recently moved into a log house in an RV Village near Branson. “All our neighbors are RVers. Each log home has a 100-foot RV pad, so it’s the best of both worlds, a home base in a scenic place with the flexibility to travel several months out of the year,” Sandy says.

From Wisconsin where they worked and raised their two boys, Earl and Sandy planned to travel following retirement—Earl as major crimes detective and Sandy as a quality control person at Nestle® Chocolate. The first year, they did not work.

“But I had retired at age 53, three years before Sandy retired,” Earl says. “It’s nice to have something to do.”

While wintering in Florida, the Womacks made friends with folks who worked at Disney World. The friends encouraged them to apply at the theme park. “We spent four winters at Disney, working in merchandising and as ‘glorified’ ushers,” Earl says. “It was fun.”

Three seasons ago, they applied for jobs at Silver Dollar City, but were hired that first year as ride operators at Celebration City—Sandy on the kiddies rides and Earl on the Accelerator. They worked from mid-April to late September. Like the Thomases, before a snow flake falls each winter, they move to warmer climates such as Arizona, Florida, or South Texas. However, they decided to create a home base in Branson because Earl’s aging mother lives in Rogers, Arkansas, less than two hours away. Sandy also has a 95-year-old dad who lives alone in Illinois. She can reach his home in a day’s drive.

For the 2008 season at Celebration City, Earl works in the Celebration Street Emporium, greeting and checking out customers at the register. In between sales, he stacks stock and straightens shelves. The Emporium sells tee-shirts, hats, mugs, novelty items, and souvenirs.

“Interaction with other folks is the most fun for me,” says Earl. “I’m a natural-born kidder, so I like to talk to the park’s guests and joke with co-workers.”

Sandy works in merchandising at the Route 66 store, down a winding sidewalk from the Emporium. She also operates the register and straightens stock. “My two most-asked questions: ‘Where is the restroom? Where is the ATM?’” she says with a laugh. The Route 66 Bijou, located in a building with video and electronic games and Kicks BBQ Grille, sells items relating to Route 66, including nostalgia memorabilia from Elvis, I Love Lucy, and Betty Boop. Racks of 1950’s style poodle skirts and guitar-shaped purses are two hot sellers, as well as air-brushed tee-shirts with the Route 66 logo.

“The people we work with are friendly and we have good interaction with both co-workers and customers,” Sandy says. “There is so much to do in Branson from outstanding shows to good restaurants. It’s a great place to be for several months out of the year.”