THOMAS, Paul E.: Died 2014

THOMAS, HOUSTON, KERR

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/11/2016 at 08:08:06

The Fairfield Ledger
Pg. 8, Fri., October 3, 2014

Paul E. Thomas

Paul E. Thomas, 102, of Keosauqua and formerly of rural Cantril, died at 12:38 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua.

The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua, with Kevin Mote officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Cantril.

Visitation will open at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with family present from 5-7 p.m.

Memorials to Milton Christian Church of Maple Grove Cemetery can be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at 14658 252nd St., Milton 52570.

Mr. Thomas was born Aug. 13, 1912, in Neelyville, Missouri, the son of James Calvin "J.C." and Ella L. Houston Thomas. He married Ilah Mae Kerr April 6, 1935, in Cantril. She died April 25, 2010.

Mr. Thomas grew up in both Wapello and Van Buren counties and graduated from Wiley Rural School near Mount Sterling.

He lived most of his married life in the rural Cantril area where he and his wife farmed using progressive farming and conservation techniques, believing that the land should be left in better shape than when it was found. He loved the land and the animals he cared for on the farm.

He retired from farming in 1977 and moved to Milton in 1993 where he continued his passion for farming by helping a nephew on his farm the equipment got too big for comfort. He still cared for a large garden and helped his neighbors with their lawns until he was 98 years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas loved to travel and made it to every state except Florida.

He had been a long-time member of the Milton and Douds Masonic lodges.

Survivors include: brother-in-law, William N. Kerr of Farmington; and 60 to 70 nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and three brothers.

(Transcribed for genealogy purposes only.)