Florene Thomas, a resident of Henryetta, died Nov. 14, 2018 at the age of 100. She was born July 28, 1918 in Foss, Okla., to William “Joe” Buster and Nora Lee (Wallace) Minyard. She married David R. Thomas on November 29, 1939 in Dustin. Together they raised 4 children; Doyal, Ron, Gaye, and DeRhonda.
David and Florene purchased a grocery store at 1st and May Street in 1957, which they operated together for 32 years. Thomas grocery holds many memories for the children who attended Roosevelt Grade School and later became the bus stop when the schools were combined in one building. Ms Thomas would prepare sack lunches every day and handled all the chaos lunch time would bring. She later worked as the hostess of The Henryetta Territorial Museum until a fall prevented her from working. The Thomas family were faithful members of the Assembly of God Church. Florene taught Sunday School and later became the secretary of the Sunday School Department. Upon retirement she organized a weekly quilting club at the church. God was the center of her life and most of her activities were centered around church events.
She was the third of 11 children and being the eldest daughter, helped her mother take care of her siblings.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sons, Doyal and Ron Thomas, a daughter-in-law, Joyce Thomas, 5 brothers, Elton, Glen, Bob, JB, and Bill Minyard, five sisters, Odessa Minyard, her twin sister Lorene Minyard, Maudie Williams, Letha Campbell and Denola McWilliams.
She is survived by; her daughters, Gaye Newton and husband Jim, DeRhonda Andrews and husband Don all of Henryetta; seven grandchildren: Derrick Thomas, Rachele Thomas, Rebecca Thomas, Felicia Andrews, Brandon Andrews, Matthew Newton, Hunter Thomas, Tyler Smith and Jeremy Smith; 15 great grandchildren: Mattisen and Lukas Hamric, Ayla and Thalia Delso, Lanie and Paige Huddleston, Aydon, Sheldon, Ariana and Kambree Andrews, Dalton and Aubree Thomas, Zef Thomas, Kinsey and Addy Smith.
Family will be receiving friends at Rogers Funeral Home Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018 at Rogers Funeral Home Chapel with Rev John Wesley Berry and Rev Robert Adams officiating.
Internment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery under the direction of Rogers Funeral Home.