Clara Anastasia Thomas, age 91, was born on a dairy farm near Grenville, South Dakota on April 23, 1926. She was the second to the youngest of 6 children born to Anton and Anastasia Ewalt. She was the first of the children to be born in a house, her older siblings were born in a sod home on the prairie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, sisters, and her husband, John M. Thomas, whom she shared her life and love with, for over 65 years until his passing in 2015. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Charles Smithson of Stuart, FL; her son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Pat Thomas of LaRue, TX; son John Thomas of Fort Walton Beach, FL; and son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Julie Thomas of Anchorage, AK; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She grew up during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. In World War II she joined the Marine Nursing Corps where she met the love of her life during nurse’s training in Illinois. John and Clara spent 26 years in the Air Force living in 7 locations. They retired in 1968 in Rapid City, SD, where Clara worked as a nurse for over 20 years. In 1992 they moved to Pearland, TX to be closer to family and followed them to Athens in 2010.
She continued to nurture her family, friends and caregivers until the last days of her life. She was a great wife, an excellent mother, a compassionate nurse and someone who loved and worshiped the Lord. In his arms, she now rests.
A Celebration of Life will be held this summer and her ashes will be interned at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Saint Edward’s Church building fund at 800 East Tyler Street, Athens, TX 75751
I had the honor to spend time with Ms. Clara, she was such a joy to be around. God Bless her family.