Rebecca John Thomas passed away Saturday, March 13th [2010] at Oneida County Hospital. Rebecca was born August 14, 1924, in Samaria, Idaho to David Edwards John and Mattie Williams John, the 7th of 10 children. She attended Samaria and Malad schools and graduated from Malad High School in 1942. Rebecca moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and worked at Fort Douglas for the Corp of Engineers for 4 years during World War II.
Rebecca married Thomas Garth Thomas on April 2, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They returned to Malad after Garth finished his military service and purchased a small farm. Over the years they expanded the farm into a larger operation that included raising purebred Columbia sheep. Garth and Rebecca participated in many of the major Purebred sheep shows and sales in the Western states often having the top-selling and champion breeding stock. Their participation in the sheep business created many lasting friendships. Most of Rebecca’s friends in the sheep business knew her as Becky, but whether she was Becky, Rebecca, or Rea, she always enjoyed having a friendly visit and a good conversation.
Rebecca was a member of the LDS church where she was involved in many supporting organizations as a participant, a teacher and a leader. She was a member of Pink Ladies, Lady Wool Growers, Legion Auxiliary, and the Estrella and Arcadia Clubs. Rea was well known in the Malad valley for her compassion and care for everyone. She enjoyed helping, especially cooking for others and always appreciated the help and support she received from others when she was in need. She was a perfectionist in everything she did and instilled that principle in all of her children.
Her greatest joys in life were her family especially her husband and her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings and in-laws. She is survived by her children:
Thomas Peter Thomas (Jackie) Woodside, California
Janesse Baker (Dean) Lancaster, California
Jeffrey John Thomas (Lou Ann) Malad, Idaho
6 grandchildren: Amy Baker Gibson (Brian), Steve Baker (Dawn), Becky Blaisdell (Shawn), Janie Bright (Cody), Tyrell Thomas (Jaime), and Arthur Thomas.
9 great-grandchildren: Cina Lou Blaisdell, Hope Ann Blaisdell, Jake Thomas Blaisdell, Alyssa Rebecca Blaisdell, Trey Scouten Thomas, Talon Garth Thomas, Sydney Rose Baker, Seth Thomas Baker, and Maya Akemi Thomas.
She is also survived by her sister Mary Griffiths and her brother Eldon John of Malad, Idaho.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Garth Thomas, her parents, her brothers William, David, DeVerl, Boyd, and Gerald and by her sisters Sarah Erickson and Edna Williams.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 20th at 12:00 noon at the Malad LDS Stake Chapel at 1250 North 1100 West. Friends may come and visit with the Thomas family on Friday evening March 19th from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and Saturday morning prior to services from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. at the Horsley Funeral Home at 132 West 300 North, Malad City, Idaho. Burial will follow at the Samaria Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the Oneida County Hospital Foundation or to the Malad City American Legion Auxiliary.