| Index | Previous Individual | Next Individual |

Individual Record for: John Melroy Thomas (male)

     Nickname: "Roy"

Source:

Ancestral File (TM)

Notes:

!NAME: John Melroy "Roy" Thomas

!DATA: John Melroy Thomas - Source - The Thomas Family History Organization which was heade d (in/part) by Harry Delbert Thomas until his death in 1986.
----------

!BIRTH: State of Colorado, Standard Certificate of Birth, Bureau of Vital Statistics (1.) Pla ce of Birth, County, Conejos, City or Town, Manassa, Name of hospital or institution: At Hom e In Manassa. (2.) State, Colorado, County, Conejos, City or Town, Manassa. (3.) Full name o f child, John Melroy Thomas. (4.) Date of birth, April 2, 1913. (5.) Sex, M [Male], (6.) Sing le birth. (7.) Number months of pregnancy, 9. (8.) Legitimate, yes. (9.) Father of Child, Jo hn I. Thomas. (10.) Color or Race, W [White] (11.) Age at time of this birth, 21 yrs. (12.) B irthplace of Father, Sanford, Conejos, Co., Colo. (13.) Usual Occupation of Father, Jeweler . (14.) Industry or business of father, for self. (15.) Mother of child, Della M. Miller. (16 .) Color or race, W [White] (17.) Age at time of this birth, 21 yrs. (18.) Birthplace of moth er, Manassa, Conejos, Co., Colo. (19.) Usual Occupation, Housewife. (20.) Industry or busines s, In Own Home. (21.) Child born to this mother, 1., How many other children of this mother a re now living, 0., How many other childen were born alive but are now dead, 0. How many child ren were born dead, 0. (22.) Mother's mailing address for registration notice: Manassa, Color ado. (23.) I hereby certify that I attended the birth of this child who was born alive at th e hour of __ on the date above stated and that the information given wa furnished by John I . Thomas, related to this child as father. Attendant's own signature _____ M.D., or midwife , Physician Date signed Oct. 12, 1942. Manassa, Colorado. (24.) Date received by local regis trar, Oct 13, 1942. (25.) Registrar's own signature, ____.
----------

!CENSUS: 1920 Conejos County, Colorado census. Precinct Number, 4. Antonito. Name Of Incorpor ated Place, Antonito Town. E.D., Number, 28. Sheet Number, 2-A. January 17 7 19, 1920
Thomas John I. Head. Owned. Mortaged. (m)(w) Age, 27. Married. Can read, yes. Can write, ye s. Born Colorado. Father born Virginia. Mother born Alabama. English. Proprietor Jewelry.
[Thomas] Della M. Wife. (f)(w) Age, 27. Married. Can read, yes. Can write, yes. Born Colorado . Father born Georgia. Mother born Alabama. English. None.
[Thomas] John M. (m)(w) Age, 6. Single. Born Colorado. Father born Colorado. Mother born Colo rado. None.
----------

!CENSUS: 1930 Salt Lake County, Utah census. Incorporated Place, Salt Lake City. E.D., Number , 18-64. Sheet Number, 19-B. 1930
Thomas John I. Head. Rent. (m)(w) Age, 37. Married. 19 at time of first marriage. Can rea d & write, yes. Born Coloardo. Father born Virginia. Mother born Alabama. English. Horologist . Jewelery.
[Thomas] Della M. Wife. (f)(w) Age, 34. Married. 17 at time of first marriage. Can read & wri te, yes. Born Colorado. Father born Mississippi. Mother born Alabama. English. None.
[Thomas] Roy Son. (m)(w) Age, 14. Single. Attended School, yes. Can read & write, yes. Born C olorado. Father born Colorado. Mother born Colorado. English. None.
Fauchett Howard Cousin. (m)(w) Age, 17. Single. Attended School, yes. Can read & write, yes . Born Colorado. Father born Colorado. Mother born Colorado.
----------

!MARRIAGE: John Melroy Thomas to Laura Lela Beal - abt 1941 Farmington, Davis, Utah.
----------

!DIVORCE: Between 1941 & May 5, 1944.
----------

!MARRIAGE: John Melroy Thomas to Mary Thelma (Martin) Moore - May 5, 1944 - Las Vegas, Clark , Nevada.
----------

!BIO: Some of the following was written by Don Martin Thomas and some of the following was wr itten by Roylene Elaine (Thomas) Day. Dedicated to those few who might be interested in gene alogy and Family History. My Grandfather, John Irvin Thomas, lived in Sanford, Colorado, an d my Grandmother, Della Melvina Miller lived in Manassa, Colorado. The story is told that Gr andpa Thomas used to ice skate the seven miles on a frozen canal from Sanford to Manassa to v isit and date my Grandmother. The story is also told that my Grandmother and my Grandfathe r took a wagon and ran off into the next County, Costella County, Colorado, to get married . Once married and having no place to go, they each returned to their parents homes afterwar ds,. I remember the story about my Grandma when she informed her mother, Angeline Haywood ( Evans) Miller Kaneaster, that she was now a married lady and that she married John Irvin Thom as. The story goes that her mother got mad at her and stated, that there wasn't a 'John' o n earth that amounted to a hill of beans. Grandma then said "What about John D. Rockafeller ?" I assume my grandparents, and my great grandmother, Angeline Haywood (Evans) Miller Kane aster did not get along too well. My Dad, John Melroy Thomas, told us about when he was a s mall child and was mad at some other kids that had mistreated him. He yelled to the other ki ds, "Old Angeline, Old Angeline, Old Angeline" thinking this was swearing. My grandmother up on hearing this said, "Oh, Roy, that is your grandmothers name." I have not heard dad tell t hat they lived with grandma, Angeline Haywood (Evans) Miller Kaneaster, but in some of the st ories that he has told about Manassa, Colorado, I assume Della, John and Dad must have eithe r lived with with her or near her before they moved to Antonito, Colorado. Dad has said tha t he was born in his grandparents house which stood on the property where the Jack Dempsey Pa rk is now located in Manassa, Conejos, Colorado. Dad remembered her, [Angeline Haywood (Evan s) Miller Kaneaster], taking string beans out of a pan, then chewing them up, and then takin g them out of her mouth and putting them in Dads mouth. Dad stated that he must have been ge tting older since he realized that she had chewed them and then put them into his mouth; some how did not seem right. In those days they did not have baby food. In thinking about Angel ine Haywood (Evans) Miller Kaneaster, I remember the story that dad told about how years late r, he, his parens, and grandma, "Angie," took a ride up into the mountains. They drove and t hey drove and they drove and they finally found a nice place by the river. Dad tells the sto ry about how grandma "Angie" got out of the car, walked over to the river and looked around a nd then said, "Oh well, we've seen it, lets go." Dad said that he remembered his grandmother , Angeline Haywood (Evans) Miller Kaneaster, always use to say, "this world and the next, an d then comes the Iron works." My grandparents, John Irvin Thomas and Della Melvina (Miller ) Thomas, wanted other children but grandmother was never able to carry another child to ful l term, and they were only able to have my father. He was raised as an only child, and adore d by them. Grandfather had several jobs during dad's youth, and they lived in many places . At one time the family had moved to Antonito Colorado. Grandpa, John Irvin Thomas, firs t worked in Antonito, Colorado on the tell-a-type, putting out a news-paper. Dad said that G randpa got so he could spell and read words up-side down. Later, Grandpa Thomas rented a n opera house that he turned into a movie theater. He used to get movies from Salt Lake City . This was around 1917. I remember my grandmother saying that she caught my dad hitting kid s over the head with a broom because they wouldn't be quite during the show. She took the br oom away and scolded him, but she really thought it was cute because dad, could do no wrong . Around the 1920's dad's father, John Irvin Thomas, owned a Jewlrey Store in Antonito, Colo rado. Roylene Day has a clock that has writing on it showing Thomas Jewlrey, Antonito, Color ado. It has never been stated but I assume that grandpa, got some of his money to own the Jew lrey and Watch Repair Shop from his mother-in-law, Angeline Haywood (Evans) Miller Kaneaster . The story goes that after Nicholas William Miller and Angeline Haywood (Evans) Miller go t divorced, Grandfather Miller left Grandmother Miller $50,000 dollars in the divorce settle ment. My mother has stated that a lot of the $50, 000 dollars could have been in land and pro perty, such as the house there in Manassa, Colorado. Grandpa, John Irvin Thomas, must have l earned watch repair from his father, William Vincent Thomas. In the naration of his father b y Herry Delbert Thomas, great Uncle Harry Delbert Thomas talkes about how his father, Willia m Vincent Thomas, started to learn on his own how to repair watches. Also how William Vincen t Thomas set up a little watch repair shop in an out building by his home there in Sanford, C olorado, and fixed watches for the town folks. Watch repairing must have been in the blood s ince, William Vincent Thomas, John Irvin Thomas and Richard Lynn Thomas (Dad's cousin) all ow ned watch repair shops. I asked my Great Uncle Harry Delbert Thomas if he could remember any thing about my grandfather, John Irvin Thomas. Great Uncle Harry Delbert Thomas stated tha t all he knew about John was that he would go off to visit Della in Manassa. It was also i n Antonito, Colorado that Grandpa, Thomas, rented a house close to Grandma's, Della Melvina ( Miller) Thomas' Aunt, Margaret Lucineda (Evans) Faucett. Margaret Lucinda (Evans) Faucett' s son was Howard Earl Faucett. Howard Earl Faucett, dad's second cousin, was the closest thi ng to a brother dad ever knew. As a small child there in Antonito, Colorado, dad got deathl y sick. Howard Earl Faucett asked, "Is 'Yoy' going to be OK," and offered 'Yoy' his nickel . After a little while when 'Yoy' got better, Howard wanted his nickel back. Later, Aunt 'C indy', as Margaret Lucinda (Evans) Faucett was called, moved with her family to Salt Lake Cit y, Utah and they lived in a house behind Franklin - Covey Baseball Field, - or Derks Field , as we all knew it. From Antonito, Colorado, dad moved with his parents to Williams, Arizon a. I remember dad telling how Aunt Nellie Irine (Miller) Young, and her husband Guy Young wo uld throw pine cones onto the roof of the cabin to scare Grandma, Della Melvina (Miller) Thom as. From Williams, Arizona I think Grandpa and Grandma, dad, and maybe Guy Marion Young an d Nellie Irine (Miller) Young, moved to California. Grandpa and Garndma and Dad lived in Newp ort Beach. I remember dad talking about walking along the beach to his school each morning, a nd picking up sea shells along the way. I think it was in Newport Beach that Grandma Della ( Miller) Thomas saved her neices life. I think it was Nellie Irine (Miller) Young's daughter , Helen Gurtrude Young that she nursed back to life. I also think it was in Newport Beach wh ere Grandpa, John Irvin Thomas, caught typhoid feaver and ended up loosing his hair before Gr andma could nurse him back to recoverey. From Newport Beach I think Grandpa and Garndma an d dad then moved to Santa Anna where they lived on Walnut Street and where Grandpa worked i n a Jewlery store for a Mr Smith. It was also in Santa Anna, California that dad was baptize d a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since the church records show t hat he was baptized in Santa Anna, California. After this I think they moved to Tustin, Cal ifornia. It was in Tustin, California that Grandpa John Irvin Thomas owned a small orange tre e farm. Dad remembered this place because they had orange trees on their property and afte r my grandmother had a miscarriage, my grandfather buried the perfectly formed child undernea th an orange tree. Dad always felt bad about not having brothers and sisters. I think in Tu stin, California Grandpa made a living on the orange tree farm. I also think that they late r moved back to Santa Anna, California and maybe it was at this time that Granpa worked for M r. Smith in a watch repair shop. The skill of watch repair came naturally to him; as it di d his brothers and father. Grandpa, John Irvin Thomas, found a book that listed all the pla ces where watch repairmen were needed, and then the family packed up and moved to Casper, Wyo ming where he worked in a little shop owned by a Mr. Evans. This Mr. Evans wanted to also ad d optical glasses to the store and also have that as a side business.He was prepared to sen d dad to Optician School. Dad decided against it, which turned out for the better since thi s Mr. Evans died shortly thereafter, and Mr. Evans son decided to sell the Watch Repair and J ewlrey Shop there in Casper, Wyoming. I think it was at this time that Grandpa found a watc h repair job in Spokane, Washington. Grandpa, John Irvin Thomas, went first to Spokan, Wash ington to see about the job. Grandma and dad stayed in Casper, Wyoming and once Granpa foun d the job, Grandma sold everything and she and dad followed Grandpa to Spokane, Washington . I think it was there in Spokane, that they were so poor,after spending all their money fo r train tickets, that they did not have enough money to buy sheets or blankets for a bed. Da d talked about how they slept with a mattress over them for a blanket. Dad talked about liv ing in so many little towns that I have a hard time remembering all of their names. Apparent ly, Grandfather and Grandmother had wanderlust. Dad just said that where ever they moved, th e first thing that my grandmother did was paint the walls in the living room dark green. May be this was the style at the time, however years later, when my father and mother moved int o the house where I grew up, Grandma had painted the walls dark green to get it ready for us . One of the places where my father lived was in Alberquerqey, New Mexico. I think they mov ed from Spoken, Washington to Alberquerqey, New Mexico. I believe that it was here that Da d developed a passion for the game of Tennis. I recall saying that He learned to play the ga me pretty well, and practiced by hitting a tennis ball over and over against a wall. In hig h school, dad played in a championship game and won each match until he played the last oppon et. He said that his family didn't have the money to buy him a good racquet, and he played w ith one that was heavy, and well worn. After he lost the game, he went up to the other playe r to congratulate him. The boy noticed dads racquet; his own was brand new, and light weight . He told dad that if he had played with his new racquet, Dad would have won the game. My g randparents moved to Salt Lake City where Dad went to West High School, then moved to Ogden U tah, and then out of state again. [Back to Casper, Wyoming where Dad graduated from Natron a County, High School.] They returned to Salt Lake after Dad graduated from high school so t hat he could attend the University of Utah. However he and a second cousin, Howard Earl Fauc ett, decided to go to the LDS business college for a while instead. As a young man, dad work ed at ZCMI, and at Montgomery Wards department stores, but he eventually became a third gener ation watch repairman in his family, working alongside his father. Grandpa, John Irvin Thoma s, rented the little shop at 110 Eeat 2nd South, Salt Lake City, Utah, which became Thomas J ewlery, and where he worked until his death. The family was so poor when they first rented t he shop, that they couldn't afford to get an appartment. They worked in the shop all day, th en drew down the blinds and pulled out sleeping cots from the back at night. After Grandpa b uilt up his clientele, they moved into the Palace Apartment. This apartment building had th e distinction of being the first apartment building in Salt Lake City, so Grandma said. Th e family lived in the front of the building. They had a little balcony looking over the stre et where they could sit on summer evenings. My grandparents lived there for over 30 years . I have many happy memories of that place and spent a lot of my youth staying there with m y grandparents. My father had a brief first marriage, and my half-brother, John-Roy was born . John-Roy's birth name was John Melroy Thomas Jr. , but once adopted by Jack Binkerd it wa s changed to John Elliott Binkerd. After the divorce, John Roy's mother, Laura Liela (Beal ) Thomas remarried a man who was in the military and dad lost contact with this son over th e years. When John-Roy was going to BYU, he paid a visit to my grandfathers shop. He was cu rious about my father. The minute my dad saw him, he gasped out his name. He looked just li ke my father. John-Roy lived out of state when he married, but he and dad, until my brother s death in 1986, occasionally stayed in contact. Dad met mother while visiting an aunt, [Nel lie Irine (Miller) Young Ore,] in Douglas] Arizona. Mother had been married for a short tim e as well, [to a man by the name of Carman Eugen Moore]. Grandma's neice, Helen Gertrude You ng had married Elston Claude Martin, mother's brother, and they also lived in Douglas, Arizon a. Dad and his first cousin, Helen Gertrude (Young) Martin and mom's brother, Elston Claud e Martin, were all sitting in a car in front of a store when mother came down the sidewalk wi th a little girl called Brenda Kay, following along. That was how the story went whent Da d and Mother met the first time. Mother, Mary Thelma (Martin) Moore, was staying with dad' s Aunt, Nellie Irine (Miller) Young Ore, at that time. Mother stated that Nellie Irine (Mill er) Young Ore's husband ran a gas station there in Douglas, Arizona and that Nellie also ha d a big house there where her brother and sister-in-law, Elston Claude Martin and Helen Gertr ude (Young) Martin, also lived. Nellie Irine (Miller) Young Ore moved to Phoenix, Arizona an d Mother also stated she had a house there. Mother moved to Phoenix, Arizona with them sinc e mom and dad dated for a time in Phoenix, Arizona. Mother said that Nellie Irine (Miller) Y oung Ore had a house and some land and decided to raise chickens there in Phoenix, Arizona. M other stated that she thought that Nellie thought they were going to make a lot of money sel lling chickens, but the chickens caught a desease and all died. Dad returned to Salt Lake Ci ty, Utah and after a while wrote to Mother in Phoenix, Arizona to come and visit him in Sal t Lake City, Utah. Mother with three year old Brenda rode the bus to Salt Lake City, Utah . While Mother visited in Salt Lake City, Utah they all stayed in Grandpa's and Grandma's Ap artment. Grandpa and Grandma in the bed, mother and Brenda in the pull out bed, and dad on t he couch. After two or three weeks Mother finally returned to Douglas, Arizona, and stayed w ith William Terry "Bill" Wells,' sister, Lola ( Lolie). William Terry "Bill" Wells was marr ied to Mothers sister, Ella Burnice (Martin) Wells. Mother got a job in Douglas, Arizona, no rth of town. A short time later dad informed Grandpa and Grandma that he was going to go ge t Mother. Dad rode down in a bus to Douglas, Arizona and asked Mother to marry him. They to ok a bus to Las Vegas, Nevada. In order to get married they had to stay over night and ge t a marriage license from the court house. The cab drivers wife tended Brinda Kay while Da d and Mother got married May 5, 1944.. Mother said at that time Las Vegas, Nevada was not li ke it is now with all the wedding chapels, and if one wanted to get married they had to ge t a license from the court house. They stayed over night and then caught the bus to Salt Lak e City, Utah. When Dad married mom, he also gained a daughter, my sister Brenda [Brenda Ka y Moore]. I have always thought my mother was absolutely beautiful, and considered my fathe r to be very handsome and distinguished looking. I can see why they were instantly attracte d to each other. Five more children were born to them. Mary Louise was born in 1945 (my gra ndfather called her his little "Susie Q" and it stuck), Roylene was born in 1947. Although D ad's name is John, after his father, my grandmothers sister talked grandma into choosing Melr oy as his middle name. No one ever liked that name. Since they didn't want to confuse him w ith his father, he was always just called Roy...hence the name, Roylene. Roylene has always f elt special to be named after my dad. Mom and Dad were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple w hen Roylene was one and Susie was three, making us an eternal family. Brenda was also seale d to Dad at this time. Don; at last a boy, was born in 1949; then came Ted in 1950, and fina lly Nancy; the baby of the family, in 1957. My father was a man of many talents. Susie an d Roylene both remember Grandma telling us that at the age of either 7 or 9, Dad took a watc h completely apart. He got in trouble for it, so he then put it back together again. And i t worked! Speaking of talent, a few years later, my grandmother enrolled dad in dancing less ons. One day there weren't enough female instructors for all of the students, and dad had t o dance with the owner. He is probably one of the few men who has had the distinct privileg e of having danced with Arthur Murray himself. Dad never went back for another lesson. Da d was very artistic. He was able to draw life-like pictures from the time he was very little . He also drew wonderful cartoons. We children benefitted from his talent. Every time we w ere assigned an art project to do in school, we got "A's." We'd beg dad to "help" us, and he 'd get so involved in the project that he just took over. Roylene says that she is the only p erson in my family without one ounce of artistic ability, besides mom,..... but she still tur ned in truly professional posters and diorama's. Her favorite was a cabin that dad "helped " with. It had individual logs, bearskins hanging on the walls, a chimney, a log fence and l ife like landscaping. I think there was even smoke coming out of the chimney. We children a lways wondered why no one ever questioned the source of all this talent. We lived across th e street from the old Washington School, and in the spring every year, they held a dance fest ival outside on the school flats, where we students demonstrated all the dances we had learne d throughout the year. One year the parents were allowed to help their children design and m ake hobby horses to be used in one of the dances. Dad's hobby horse was so professional tha t everyone wanted to know where Susie had gotten it. Don also has a memory of dad whittlin g two airplanes out of wood, complete with propellers, for he and Ted when they were little . At work, Dad took a special delight in designing the wondows in the shop. He had such att ractive window displays that Old Mr. Shubach of Shubach Jewelry came into the store and aske d who was responsible for designing the windows. When he found out that it was dad, he trie d to hire him, but dads loyalties were with his father and he turned him down. Dad, becaus e he was an only child, was very close to both of his parents. He never wanted to hurt them , so even though his heart wasn't in the watch repair business, he couldn't see his way to le aving. When my grandfather passed away in 1963, it devastated my father. He couldn't bear t o run the watch shop by himself after being with my grandfather for all of those years. He l iterally gave everything in the store away because he couldn't stand the memories they provok ed. I remember that the only thing of a personal nature that he kept for a long time was a n old pair of grandpa's shoes. Dad worked as a security guard for a couple of years for th e American Oil Corporation, and then he got a job at Hill Air force Base where he fixed camer a's that they used in the planes for surveillance during the Vietnam war. Dad stayed at th e base until his retirement. When my grandmother became too ill to take care of herself, sh e moved in with my parents. Dad was always unfailingly gentle and loving with her right up t o the time she passed away. Dad was the only one with her when it happened. I have tender m emories of my father when I was little. I was so attached to him that I would put one of hi s shoes in bed with me to prevent him from going to work in the morning. He apparently had t wo pairs of shoes. When we were ill, dad would bring the girls home a little story book doll , or a comic book. Casper the Friendly Ghost and Wendy, or Nancy and Sluggo. I'm not sure w hat the boys received. My father had a great sense of humor. He was the king of puns and th e one liners. He could find humor in every situation. Trying to get dad to be serious was t he challenge. Silliness is a family trait, but my brother Ted inherited the biggest dose. W e grew up on lines like, "No winner pernotter," or "No savy the burrow." Don't ask what the y mean, we don't know. Dad liked Carol Burrnett. Years ago we laughed hysterically after wa tching a skit of hers. Whenever someone got too mushy, we'd all say the punch line on cue "L ove, love, we hate so much love." It was an inside joke. Dad kept his sense of humor righ t up until the end. Even though his memory was failing, he could come up with a funny littl e phrase. Dad also had a very tender heart. During a sad movie you would see him trying t o discreetly wipe away tears. He was always for the underdog. One of his favorite stories w as about an old bag lady who always pushed a grocery cart downtown with all of her worldly po ssessions in it. Even in cold weather she just wore a sweater and dad worried about her. H e managed to find a heavy wool coat one day, maybe it was one of mom's, and he walked behin d the women and put the coat around her shoulders. He said, "There, now you'll be nice and w arm." The next day when he saw her, she was wearing her old sweater again; the coat was in t he grocery cart. At one time, there were some homeless people who managed to rent the apartm ent in the basement next door. Dad happened to notice that thy didn't have a TV. He went ou t and bought them one. He and mom often bought groceries for people who they thought neede d them. Especially at Thanksgiving time and Christmas. Mom and dad have helped all of thei r married children at times, even when we didn't ask for it. Over the years they have show n up at one of our doors with something they'd decided we needed. A new stove or a washing m achine or a microwave. When we've said that they shouldn't do that because the gifts were to o expensive, they just shrugged it off. Mom said that it was the most fun she and Dad had . She said that they did it because we didn't have much when we were growing up. Well, I wa nt to tell her, I had a great youth. They have nothing to make up for. Mother said that da d would tell us kids stories so interesting that she used to wish she had written them down t o send in to a publisher. I always loved Dad's stories. But the stories that I loved the mo st were the ones he told me about Jesus. Because of these stories, I always felt as a child , that the Savior was my special friend. I'll always be grateful to dad for this, because i t was the start of my testimony. Dad served a Stake Mission from 1948 to 1950. I don't reme mber him being all that active when we were kids, but we always new that he had a testimony o f the gospel. He said that his testimony originated from a time when he had received a bless ing as a child when he had been very ill. He described the feeling that came over him durin g the blessing, and he was able to almost immediately get out of bed and go outside and pla y afterwards. Dad always told us that we belonged to the True Church, and he was the one wh o baptized us when we turned eight. Mother was the one who took us to church every week an d kept us active; but dad always obeyed the word of wisdon and never took the Lords name in v ain, and we grew up with that example in our home. Over the years, dad became more active i n church. When he and mom retired, they took several nice trips around the country that the y enjoyed. Especially the trips that they took with Bishop and Tony Van Otten. I'm glaad th at mom and dad had this time together. They have also enjoyed their friendship with Smitty a nd Elfrieda who live down the street. My father was blessed with remarkably good health fo r most of his life. It has only been during the last year that he has been ill. It has bee n hard for all of us to see dad. He seemed to grow weaker almost every day, until he require d total care. We have all helped as much as we could, but we owe my sister Nancy, and especi ally my brother Don, our heartfelt gratitude, for the patient, tender care that they have giv en both of my parents during the past few months. I know that it was hard, even humiliatin g at times, for dad to be so helpless. But I also know how much he appreciated their efforts . Bringham Young said about death...... "My spirit is set free, I thirst no more, I want t o sleep no more, I hunger no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go, I come, I d o this, I do that, whatever is required of me, nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of l ife, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my heavenly father." This is how I think o f Dad now. I know that he has had a glorious reunion with his parents and that he is happy . But I also know that death doesn't end the relationship with those of us who are still her e. Dad will continue to be concerned about our well being and interested in our lives. Lov e is eternal. I know this is true. My father may not have had a college education with fanc y credentials behind his name. He certainly never had a lot of money. Our family never too k fancy vacations or enjoyed luxuries. And, Dad wasn't the kind of father who gave wise coun cil too his children, or who held long, serious conversations with us. But he was honest an d kind, and taught us to have a sence of humor. He went to work every day, and came home t o his wife and children every night. He didn't have to tell us that he loved us, but we kne w it.
----------

!OBITUARY: John I. Thomas. John Irvin Thomas, 70, 145 3rd East, died of natural causes Saturd ay, 9:30 p.m. en route to a Salt Lake hospital. Born May 11, 1892, Sanford, Colo., to Willia m Vincent and Nancy Elizabeth Irvin Thomas. Married Della Miller, Jan. 4, 1912, San Luis, Me xico. [Colorado]. Marriage later solemnized, Salt Lake Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Lat ter-Day Saints. Owner-operator, Thomas Jewelry, 110 E. 2nd South. Member, Eight LDS Ward. S urvivors: Widow; son, John M., Salt Lake City; six grandchildren; brothers, sister, William M ., Albuquerque, N.M.; Samuel F., Alamosa, Colo.; Harry, Logan; Mrs. Blanche Sego, Manassa, Co lo. Funeral Wednesday noon, 260 E. South Temple, where friends call Tuesday 6-8 p.m.; Wednes day prior to services. Burial, Salt Lake City Cemetery. - Source - Salt Lake Tribune, Monday , February 25, 1963.
----------

!OBITUARY: Deseret News, Thursday & Friday, Dec. 24 & 25, 1998. JOHN M. THOMAS John Melro y Thomas, passed away on Monday, December 21, 1998. He was the only child of John Irvin an d Della M. Miller Thomas. Born April 2, 1913 in Manassa, Colorado. Married Mary Thelma Mart in, May 5, 1944. Later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. He was a watchmaker for many yea rs and retired from Hill Field Air Force Base. Survivors are his wife and five children, Mar y Louise (Joseph Ned) Richards, of Panguitch, Utah; Roylene Day, Don M. Thomas, Ted M. (Juli e Vadnais) Thomas, Nancy Thomas (Joseph) Collins, all of Salt Lake. Preceded in death by son , John-Roy Binkered, stepdaughter; Brenda Kay McCurdy and son-in-law Marvin B. Day. Funera l services will be Saturday, Dec. 26, 1998 at 12 noon at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temp le, where friends may call one hour prior to services, interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
----------

!FUNERAL: JOHN MELROY THOMAS, Born: April 2, 1913 - Manassa, Colorado. Died: December 21, 199 8 - Salt Lake City, Utah. Son of John Irvin Thomas and Della Melvina Miller Thomas. Husband o f Mary Thelma Martin Thomas. Funeral Services Saturday, December 26, 1998 - 12 Noon Larkin Mo rtuary Chapel, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Pallbearers - Grandsons, Bryan Ri chards; Berkeley Day; Chase Collins; Frank Richards; Jason Day; Jarrett Thomas; Clayton Colli ns. Honorary Pallbearers, Elder Martin T. Day, Birmingham, England. Jeremy Thomas. Funeral Di rectors - Larkin Mortuary. Services, Lynn Bybee, conducting. Family Prayer, Jarrett Thomas, g randson-[Don Martin Thomas. son]. Prelude Music, Kristeen Polhamus; Invocation, Berkeley Day , Grandson.; Vocal Solo, Scott Miller. "How Great Thou Art,"accompanied by Kristeen Polhamus. ; Speaker, Roylene Day, daughter.; Piano Solo, Brittany Collins, granddaughter, "His Hands." ; Speaker, Ted Thomas, son.; Remarks, Lynn Bybee.; Vocal Solo, Scott Miller, "I know That M y Redeemer Lives," accompanied by Kristeen Polhamus.; Benedication, Bryan Richards, grandson. ; Postlude Music, Kristeen Polhamus.; Grave Dedication, Don Thomas, son-[Jarrett Thomas, gran dson]. Interment Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Avenue & N Street.
----------

!SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX: John THOMAS. Birth Date: 2 Apr 1913. Death Date: 21 Dec 1998. S ocial Security Number: 528-16-2949. State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Utah. Death R esidence Localities ZIP Code: 84103. Localities: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; Slc, Salt L ake, Utah.
----------

!OBITUARY: Beloved Mother Mary Thelma Martin Thomas, born Nov. 8, 1918 in McIntosh County, Ok lahoma, to Orlando Martin and Julia Nora Russell Martin. Mother returned to her Father in He aven on June 7, 2003. Married John Melroy Thomas May 5, 1944 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marriag e later solomized in the Salt Lake Temple 1947. She was an Elementary School Teacher for 2 5 years in the Davis County School District. She was a Faithful Member of the LDS Church an d served as a Missionary on Temple Square and later as an Ordinance Worker in the Salt Lake T emple. She taught her children to love the Lord and had an unwavering testimony of The Churc h of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Survived by children: Mary Richards (Joseph Ned); Ro ylene Day; Don M. Thomas; Ted M. Thomas (Julie Vadnais); Nancy Collins (Joey), all of Salt La ke City, Utah. She had 21 Grand-Children, and 18 Great-Grand Children. Preceded in death b y husband; daughter, Brenda Kay McCurdy, and Son-in-Law, Marvin B. Day. Funeral, Larkin Mort uary, 263 South Temple Street. Salt Lake City, Utah, Friday June 13, 2003 at 2:00 PM. Viewi ng one hour before services. - Source - The Salt Lake Tribune & Deseret Newspapers, June 12 , 2003.
----------

| Index | Previous Individual | Next Individual |

Last changed 17 DEC 2004
Web site created from GEDCOM file by GEDitCOM