Eva Marie Thomas
Eva Marie Thomas was born in Birch Tree, Missouri, on October 11, 1944, the daughter of Howard (Pat) and Matie (Hannah) Renshaw. She passed away in her home, surrounded by her loved ones on September 1, 2020, at the age of 75.
Eva attended elementary at a small school in Montier and eventually graduated from Birch Tree High School in 1962. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald Thomas, on March 14, 1964, and to this union, three children, Jerry, Lisa, and Pat, were born.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Emmer Rains; brothers, Bill Renshaw and Leroy Renshaw; sister-in-law, Virginia Renshaw; and grandson, Gerrid Don Thomas.
She is survived by husband, Gerald Thomas of Birch Tree, MO; two sons, Jerry Thomas of St. Charles, MO and Patrick Thomas of Birch Tree, MO; daughter, Lisa Pruett and husband, Kevin, of Birch Tree, MO; grandchildren, Cole Thomas, Shelby Thomas, Taylor Pruett and fiancé, Marcus Hoover, Courtney Thomas, Josh Pruett, and Carter Pruett; and great-granddaughter, Memphis Thomas; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Eva came to know the Lord at an early age and was baptized on August 1, 1971. She attended Turkey Oak Church and later Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.
After graduation, Gerald and Eva moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked at Hallmark cards for approximately five years before moving back to Birch Tree to start a family. She worked at Angelica Uniform Company for 17 years. In 1987, she and her family opened the Country Diner restaurant in Mountain View, Missouri. She spent the next ten years cooking, serving, and making friends. Before retiring, she opened Tender Times Daycare in Mountain View, Missouri, where she spent her days caring for her grandchildren and became known as Grandma Eva to many other children.
Eva loved to garden, cook, check the cows with the love of her life, and doting on her precious grandchildren. Eva will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
The family invites all in a celebration of Eva’s life with a visitation on Thursday, September 3, 2020, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Yarber Mortuary in Mountain View, Missouri. Eva will be laid to rest Friday, September 4, 2020, at Montier Cemetery in Montier, Missouri, at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Pam Ekey officiating under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
