Iona Mae Thomas

THOMAS

Posted By: Mark Bailey (email)
Date: 11/6/2005 at 10:51:05

Iona Mae "Iny" Thomas
MASON CITY - Iona "Iny" Mae Thomas, 76, of 216 N. Taft Ave., died Monday (Sept. 12, 2005) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the First Christian Church, 318 N. Adams Ave., with the Rev. Carla Nelson and the Rev. Charles Aurand officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and will continue one hour before services today at the church.
Memorials may be given to the First Christian Church, Salvation Army or Hospice of North Iowa.

Iona was born Dec. 2, 1928, in Mason City, the daughter of Melvin and Hazel (Harris) Bailey. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1946. On Oct. 16, 1949, Iona married Ralph R. Thomas at the First Christian Church.

Four children where born to this loving couple:
Leon
Barbara
Mark
Robert
Iona started her business, Thomas Rentals, in 1953. She was a tireless and hard worker. She owned and managed the business until the time of her death. She was known as a landlady with a heart.

Iona's husband, Ralph, owned and operated Thomas Machine Co.

Iona was a gentle, kind and optimistic person. She helped others whenever she could and always looked on the bright side. She was devoted to her family and would do anything for them. She was not only a mother, but a friend to each of her children. She was a wonderful grandmother and mother-in-law. Iona was a gracious hostess and always made people welcome in her home.

Iona was an active and lifelong member of the First Christian Church. She was also a member of Church Women United, Beta Sigma Phi, Rake and Hoe Garden Club, North Iowa Vintage Auto, Antique Automobile Club of America, Metropolitan Owners Club of North America and the Plymouth Club.

Iona enjoyed genealogy, antique car tours, reading mystery books, watching mystery movies and loved doing yard work, especially mowing her lawn.

Iona is survived by her son, Leon Thomas and wife, Mary, of Mason City and their children, Dylan and Alyssa of Iowa City and Derek of Mason City;
daughter, Barbara Colvin, of Hawkeye;
son, Mark Thomas and wife, Tralee, and their sons, Eric and Jason of Mason City;
son, Robert Thomas, of Mason City;
sister, Leila Young and husband, LeRoy, of Nora Springs and their children, Dana, Brad and Brenda;
sister-in-law, Hazel Mae McGowan, of Bettendorf and her children, Alys Jo and Tom;
sister-in-law, Leona Cooperman and husband, Dr. Martin, of Stockbridge, Mass., and their children, Barbara, Sue and Alan.

Iona was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ralph; brother, Marlin; son-in-law, Steve Colvin; brother-in-law, Merlin "Mac" McGowan.

Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 421-0524.
Published in the Globe Gazette from 9/13/2005 - 9/14/2005.

Mark Bailey and Leanne Phearman Family Tree
 

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