Cleo "Libby" Elizabeth (Vance) Thomas, age 91, of Menominee, MI passed away Friday, March 2, 2018, at the Luther Home. She was born October 19, 1926, in Bristol, Tennessee to Lloyd Preston Vance and Ella Mai (Tomlinson) Vance, one of 13 children.

Cleo and husband, Richard G. Caplett, traveled all over the world as an Air Force family. She was a sweet, Southern woman who loved her family dearly.

During World War II she worked on the assembly line at Langley Field AFB, Va. Cleo was a practical nurse, worked at an addiction clinic while living in Birmingham, Ala., was a Cub Scout leader, home health nurse and dental assistant. In her younger years, she enjoyed playing golf, pinochle, working in her yard with flowers and always enjoyed her friends. Cleo also enjoyed cooking and was known for her southern fried chicken, biscuits and cornbread.

Cleo was preceded in death by a son, Timothy Caplett; a daughter, Janet E. Roach; her husbands: Richard Caplett and Clifford Thomas; mother and father; six brothers, James Freeze, Hoyle Freeze, Ralph Vance, Robert Vance, Lewis Vance and William Vance; and four sisters, Ella Mae Cash, Sarah Frye, Jane Giese and Sue Gsell.

She is survived by a daughter, Julia Caplett of Menominee, MI; sons: Richard Caplett (Joann) of Hawaii and Frank Caplett (Dee) of Texas; seven grandchildren: Cyndie L. Russell (Tom) of Peshtigo, WI; Gerald Koski II (Jamie) of Gladstone, MI; Robert Roach (Julie) of Oregon; Denise Roach of Washington State; Gabriel Caplett (Shaquita) of Chicago, IL; Aura Nelson (Drew) of Ada, MI and Robin Caplett of Hawaii; eight great-grandchildren: Mara Mai Hedberg (Jeff) of Texas; Meghan Marie Russell (Mack Dura) of Green Bay, WI; Wyatt M. Koski of Gladstone, MI; Olivia Koski of Algoma, WI; River Nelson of Ada, MI; Zahara Caplett of Chicago, IL; Justin Roach and Dylan Roach of Oregon. Cleo is also survived by two sisters: Norene Bayless (Tom) of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Sherry Carrier of Bluff City, TN; and her special furry friend, Tippy!

Interment will be private.
© Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home of Marinette, WI notice

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record of Richard G Caplett and Elizabeth Vance
Name Richard G Caplett
Event Type Marriage
Event Date 02 Mar 1944
Event Place Camden, North Carolina, United States
Gender Male
Age 20
Birth Year (Estimated) 1924
Spouse's Name Elizabeth Vance
Spouse's Gender Female
Spouse's Age 18
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1926

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Richard G Caplett
California Divorce Index
Name Cleo E Vance
Event Type Divorce
Event Date May 1968
Event Place Orange, California
Spouse's Name Richard G Caplett

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C Elizabeth Vance
United States Census, 1940
Name C Elizabeth Vance
Event Type Census
Event Date 1940
Event Place Civil District 21, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Age 13
Marital Status Single
Race White
Race White
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Birthplace Tennessee
Birth Year (Estimated) 1927
Last Place of Residence Same Place
Household
Mae E Vance Head F 49 Tennessee
Ella Mae Cash Daughter F 21 Tennessee
Robert P Vance Son M 19 Tennessee
Sarah S Vance Daughter F 18 Tennessee
Ralph H Vance Son M 15 Tennessee
J Lewis Vance Son M 14 Tennessee
C Elizabeth Vance Daughter F 13 Tennessee
William H Vance Son M 12 Tennessee
Nellie S Vance Daughter F 10 Tennessee
Alice S Vance Daughter F 8 Tennessee
Janet T Vance Daughter F 7 Tennessee
Norine L Vance Daughter F 5 Tennessee
Elmo G Cash Son-in-law M 28 Tennessee
Phillis R Cash Granddaughter F 2 Tennessee
Walter P Cash Grandson M 0 Tennessee

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Elizabeth Vance
United States Census, 1930
Name Elizabeth Vance
Event Type Census
Event Date 1930
Event Place District 21, Sullivan, Tennessee, United States
Gender Female
Age 3
Marital Status Single
Race White
Race White
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Relationship to Head of Household Daughter
Birth Year (Estimated) 1927
Birthplace Tennessee
Father's Birthplace Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace Tennessee
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 4
Household
Loyd Vance Head M 39 Tennessee
Ellamay Vance Wife F 39 Tennessee
Ellamay Vance Daughter F 12 Tennessee
Robert Vance Son M 9 Tennessee
Sam Vance Son M 8 Tennessee
Ralph Vance Son M 5 Tennessee
Louise Vance Son M 4 Tennessee
Elizabeth Vance Daughter F 3 Tennessee
William Vance Son M 2 Tennessee
Sue Vance Daughter F 1 Tennessee

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She originally had purchased a plot at Forest Home Cemetery of Marinette, WI Mausoleum Columbum A East C-6, but per a cemetery employee, "Her original burial plot was to be in Forest Home Cemetery of Marinette; However, our records indicate that the niche for her was resold back to the City of Marinette and she is no longer considered interred here at Forest Home of Marinette, WI".

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