Idaho State Journal, 04/05/12



MALAD — Marlene Thomas, 79, passed away on Monday, April 2, 2012, at the Oneida County Hospital due to natural causes. She was born May 21, 1932, in Malad City, Idaho. Marlene was the sixth child of 12 children born to Griff J. and Vernal Mae Caldwell Davis. Marlene was raised and educated in Malad.

On May 28, 1951, she married Ray Thomas in Randolph, Utah. They were the parents of four children, Laurel (Sharon), Idaho Falls, Idaho, Jon, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Jana (Blaine), Camas, Washington, and Jill (Lawrence), Pocatello, Idaho. They had 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

Marlene enjoyed many years of working at Karen Lanes and Tough Guy Lanes. Marlene’s joy was gardening. Many special times were had going flower shopping with her daughters and her sisters. Marlene was also a wonderful cook. Holidays were a special family time for Marlene. She loved to cook special meals and decorate for each holiday. Dad always bought Mom an Easter lily for Easter and a poinsettia for Christmas.

She always enjoyed phone calls from her sisters. The highlight of her day was her daily phone calls from her sister, Pearl, and flowers from Jack and Jeanette. In her later years, she loved playing bingo with her friends at the nursing home.

For many years Marlene courageously battled macular degeneration. She never let it slow her down.

Marlene is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one brother, Jack (Jeanette) Davis, Rigby, Idaho; and three sisters, Joann (Bill) Williams of Fredrickson, Colo., Pearl (Darwin) Tolbert of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Deanna (Jim) Johnston of Fredrickson, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and four brothers.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at noon. Friends may visit with the Thomas family on Saturday prior to services from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Burial will follow in the Malad City Cemetery.