Thelma Fae Thomas 1934-2024, Thornfield, MO
Thelma Fae (Piland) Thomas left her life on earth to move on to her heavenly home on January 23, 2024, at Gainesville Health Care in Gainesville, Missouri.
Fae was born on March 11, 1934, at Foil, Missouri to Lloyd Fremont (Doc) and Sarah Neva (Able) Piland. She attended elementary school at Mt. Lebanon and then attended high school at Ava and Gainesville. She graduated from Gainesville High School in 1952.
Fae and Nuel Thomas were married August 4, 1951, at Mountain Home, Arkansas. To this union three children were born, Darrel Dean Thomas of Monett, Missouri, Anita Donley of Thornfield, Missouri, and Treva Warrick of Gainesville, Missouri.
Fae accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at Mt. Lebanon General Baptist Church. She was a member of the Romance General Baptist Church at Romance, Missouri. Fae and Nuel loved to sing gospel songs together and traveled to many churches to sing.
She loved to cook for her family and always had Sunday dinner ready no matter how many would show up. As the grandchildren married and added great-grandchildren it was not uncommon to have 20 or more for lunch. She and Nuel loved to attend the bluegrass festivals in their camper where they would join a large group of bluegrass playing friends. If there was a jam session in the area they would be there. She also loved attending the many basketball and baseball games when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were playing. In her eyes, her grandchildren never made a mistake, and any referee was on her bad side if they called a foul on them. They would also take annual camping trips to Bull Shoals Lake with the grandchildren where many wonderful memories were made.
She worked on the family farm right along with Nuel. Together they provided for their family farming and hauling milk. Milking cows, raising hogs, and haying were jobs she handled daily. If Nuel was sick, she would drive the milk route too. Checking her cows and keeping her yard spotless kept her busy after they sold the milk cows and milk route.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 2011, her parents, one sister, Norma Piland Johnson, and granddaughter Annette Thomas Mesicek.
Fae is survived by their three children, Darrel Dean Thomas (Patty) of Monett, Missouri, Anita Donley (Dan) of Thornfield, Missouri, and Treva Warrick of Gainesville, Missouri. Six grandchildren, Heath Thomas, Jerry Donley, Joe Donley (Wendy), Kathy (Donley) Bearden (Eric), Erin (Warrick) McBride (Travis), and Clay Warrick (Caitlin). Sixteen great-grandchildren, Lakan, Bella, Skyler, Adalyn, Jeffrey, Cody, Abby, Quinton, Ethan, Jaxon, Emma, Lucas, Willis, Carly, Wesley, and Isla. One brother, Gerald Piland of Republic, Missouri.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Heath Thomas, Jerry Donley, Joe Donley, Eric Bearden, Travis McBride, and Clay Warrick. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons, Skyler Mesicek, Jeffrey Donley, Cody Donley, Quinton Donley, Ethan Donley, Jaxon Donley, Lucas Bearden, Willis Bearden, and Wesley Bearden
Funeral services for Fae will be Friday, January 26, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Clinkingbeard Chapel, Ava, MO with burial following in the Thornfield Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. James Kyle. Memorials may be made to Piland Youth Camp, Thornfield Cemetery or donor’s choice.
