THOMAS - Yvonne Jeanette, 82 Dec 1, 1938 - Apr 9, 2021 Yvonne Jeanette Thomas , 82, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away, Friday, April 9, 2021, at Brookdale Senior Living.
Born Thursday, December 1, 1938 in Jenners, PA, she was the daughter of the late Merle Edward Shirey Sr. and the late Orphabell (Shaffer) Shirey.
Raised in Jennerstown, PA, she played trumpet and was a majorette in the band at Boswell Joint High School. There she served as President of the school's Honor Society. She later graduated from Indiana State Teachers College of PA, with a major in Home Economics, Yvonne later earned her MS degree from Hood College in Frederick, MD.
After college she married William E. Thomas from Holsopple, PA; a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, together they traveled the world as he served in the military and she taught where ever they landed. She started her teaching career in Bristol, PA then onto Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and Pensacola, FL. Later her husband left the military and joined United Airlines and they started a family in Crystal Lake, IL where their first son, Scott was born. Soon they moved to Burkettsville, then Boonsboro, MD where they built a home and their second son Matthew was born, later daughter Elba joined the family as an exchange student from Mexico, along with a few other individuals who needed some housing assistance.
Yvonne taught at Workman Junior High School in Pensacola, FL, Heritage Academy, Broadfording Christian Academy, and taught middle school throughout Washington County, finally ending her career at Springfield Middle, where kids knew her as the cooking teacher who taught latch-key kids process for simple microwave meals.
She was a very industrious individual, making everything from home and from scratch. Always devoted to her church, whether at Hagerstown Grace Brethren or TriState Fellowship. Serving in various capacities through the years as Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Teacher/ Director, where she wrote and drew material for Kindergarten through 8th grade. She also was involved in mission committees, visitation groups, church holiday decorating.
Along with her husband they were the World Team Missions- Assistant Team Coordinators for Kazakhstan. Yvonne also served on numerous boards including Cedar Ridge Ministries for 10 years, President of the Womens Commission of Hagerstown, President of the Gideon's Society Womens Auxiliary, Washington County Museum Singer Society, AAUW where she also served as President and helped with the book sale, TriState Missions Committee and the local chapter of the DAR. She also was a substitute teacher for twelve years in Foley, AL and Washington County, MD.
She is survived by her husband 59 and 1/2 years William Edward Thomas; two sons, Scott Forrest Thomas of Hagerstown, MD and Matthew David Thomas and wife Monica of Fountain, CO; daughter, Elba Gloria Lopez de Loya of Mexico City; brother, Merle Edward Shirey, II of Ocean Pines, HI; five grandchildren, Sarah Thomas of Denver, CO, Shannon Thomas of Denver, CO, Matthew David Thomas, Jr. of Fountain, CO, Graycee Thomas of Fountain, CO and Michael Thomas of Fountain, CO; .
A memorial service at Tri-State Fellowship, Hagerstown, MD, will held in the near future.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cedar Ridge Ministries 12146 Cedar Ridge Road, Williamsport, MD 21795 or to, Tri-State Fellowship Missions, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD, 21740.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com
Published on April 19, 2021
Tribune-Democrat
Johnstown, PA
Born Thursday, December 1, 1938 in Jenners, PA, she was the daughter of the late Merle Edward Shirey Sr. and the late Orphabell (Shaffer) Shirey.
Raised in Jennerstown, PA, she played trumpet and was a majorette in the band at Boswell Joint High School. There she served as President of the school's Honor Society. She later graduated from Indiana State Teachers College of PA, with a major in Home Economics, Yvonne later earned her MS degree from Hood College in Frederick, MD.
After college she married William E. Thomas from Holsopple, PA; a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, together they traveled the world as he served in the military and she taught where ever they landed. She started her teaching career in Bristol, PA then onto Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and Pensacola, FL. Later her husband left the military and joined United Airlines and they started a family in Crystal Lake, IL where their first son, Scott was born. Soon they moved to Burkettsville, then Boonsboro, MD where they built a home and their second son Matthew was born, later daughter Elba joined the family as an exchange student from Mexico, along with a few other individuals who needed some housing assistance.
Yvonne taught at Workman Junior High School in Pensacola, FL, Heritage Academy, Broadfording Christian Academy, and taught middle school throughout Washington County, finally ending her career at Springfield Middle, where kids knew her as the cooking teacher who taught latch-key kids process for simple microwave meals.
She was a very industrious individual, making everything from home and from scratch. Always devoted to her church, whether at Hagerstown Grace Brethren or TriState Fellowship. Serving in various capacities through the years as Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Teacher/ Director, where she wrote and drew material for Kindergarten through 8th grade. She also was involved in mission committees, visitation groups, church holiday decorating.
Along with her husband they were the World Team Missions- Assistant Team Coordinators for Kazakhstan. Yvonne also served on numerous boards including Cedar Ridge Ministries for 10 years, President of the Womens Commission of Hagerstown, President of the Gideon's Society Womens Auxiliary, Washington County Museum Singer Society, AAUW where she also served as President and helped with the book sale, TriState Missions Committee and the local chapter of the DAR. She also was a substitute teacher for twelve years in Foley, AL and Washington County, MD.
She is survived by her husband 59 and 1/2 years William Edward Thomas; two sons, Scott Forrest Thomas of Hagerstown, MD and Matthew David Thomas and wife Monica of Fountain, CO; daughter, Elba Gloria Lopez de Loya of Mexico City; brother, Merle Edward Shirey, II of Ocean Pines, HI; five grandchildren, Sarah Thomas of Denver, CO, Shannon Thomas of Denver, CO, Matthew David Thomas, Jr. of Fountain, CO, Graycee Thomas of Fountain, CO and Michael Thomas of Fountain, CO; .
A memorial service at Tri-State Fellowship, Hagerstown, MD, will held in the near future.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cedar Ridge Ministries 12146 Cedar Ridge Road, Williamsport, MD 21795 or to, Tri-State Fellowship Missions, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD, 21740.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com
Published on April 19, 2021
Tribune-Democrat
Johnstown, PA
THOMAS - Yvonne Jeanette, 82 Dec 1, 1938 - Apr 9, 2021 Yvonne Jeanette Thomas , 82, of Hagerstown, MD, passed away, Friday, April 9, 2021, at Brookdale Senior Living.
Born Thursday, December 1, 1938 in Jenners, PA, she was the daughter of the late Merle Edward Shirey Sr. and the late Orphabell (Shaffer) Shirey.
Raised in Jennerstown, PA, she played trumpet and was a majorette in the band at Boswell Joint High School. There she served as President of the school's Honor Society. She later graduated from Indiana State Teachers College of PA, with a major in Home Economics, Yvonne later earned her MS degree from Hood College in Frederick, MD.
After college she married William E. Thomas from Holsopple, PA; a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, together they traveled the world as he served in the military and she taught where ever they landed. She started her teaching career in Bristol, PA then onto Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and Pensacola, FL. Later her husband left the military and joined United Airlines and they started a family in Crystal Lake, IL where their first son, Scott was born. Soon they moved to Burkettsville, then Boonsboro, MD where they built a home and their second son Matthew was born, later daughter Elba joined the family as an exchange student from Mexico, along with a few other individuals who needed some housing assistance.
Yvonne taught at Workman Junior High School in Pensacola, FL, Heritage Academy, Broadfording Christian Academy, and taught middle school throughout Washington County, finally ending her career at Springfield Middle, where kids knew her as the cooking teacher who taught latch-key kids process for simple microwave meals.
She was a very industrious individual, making everything from home and from scratch. Always devoted to her church, whether at Hagerstown Grace Brethren or TriState Fellowship. Serving in various capacities through the years as Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Teacher/ Director, where she wrote and drew material for Kindergarten through 8th grade. She also was involved in mission committees, visitation groups, church holiday decorating.
Along with her husband they were the World Team Missions- Assistant Team Coordinators for Kazakhstan. Yvonne also served on numerous boards including Cedar Ridge Ministries for 10 years, President of the Womens Commission of Hagerstown, President of the Gideon's Society Womens Auxiliary, Washington County Museum Singer Society, AAUW where she also served as President and helped with the book sale, TriState Missions Committee and the local chapter of the DAR. She also was a substitute teacher for twelve years in Foley, AL and Washington County, MD.
She is survived by her husband 59 and 1/2 years William Edward Thomas; two sons, Scott Forrest Thomas of Hagerstown, MD and Matthew David Thomas and wife Monica of Fountain, CO; daughter, Elba Gloria Lopez de Loya of Mexico City; brother, Merle Edward Shirey, II of Ocean Pines, HI; five grandchildren, Sarah Thomas of Denver, CO, Shannon Thomas of Denver, CO, Matthew David Thomas, Jr. of Fountain, CO, Graycee Thomas of Fountain, CO and Michael Thomas of Fountain, CO; .
A memorial service at Tri-State Fellowship, Hagerstown, MD, will held in the near future.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cedar Ridge Ministries 12146 Cedar Ridge Road, Williamsport, MD 21795 or to, Tri-State Fellowship Missions, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD, 21740.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com
Published on April 19, 2021
Tribune-Democrat
Johnstown, PA
Born Thursday, December 1, 1938 in Jenners, PA, she was the daughter of the late Merle Edward Shirey Sr. and the late Orphabell (Shaffer) Shirey.
Raised in Jennerstown, PA, she played trumpet and was a majorette in the band at Boswell Joint High School. There she served as President of the school's Honor Society. She later graduated from Indiana State Teachers College of PA, with a major in Home Economics, Yvonne later earned her MS degree from Hood College in Frederick, MD.
After college she married William E. Thomas from Holsopple, PA; a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, together they traveled the world as he served in the military and she taught where ever they landed. She started her teaching career in Bristol, PA then onto Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and Pensacola, FL. Later her husband left the military and joined United Airlines and they started a family in Crystal Lake, IL where their first son, Scott was born. Soon they moved to Burkettsville, then Boonsboro, MD where they built a home and their second son Matthew was born, later daughter Elba joined the family as an exchange student from Mexico, along with a few other individuals who needed some housing assistance.
Yvonne taught at Workman Junior High School in Pensacola, FL, Heritage Academy, Broadfording Christian Academy, and taught middle school throughout Washington County, finally ending her career at Springfield Middle, where kids knew her as the cooking teacher who taught latch-key kids process for simple microwave meals.
She was a very industrious individual, making everything from home and from scratch. Always devoted to her church, whether at Hagerstown Grace Brethren or TriState Fellowship. Serving in various capacities through the years as Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher, VBS Teacher/ Director, where she wrote and drew material for Kindergarten through 8th grade. She also was involved in mission committees, visitation groups, church holiday decorating.
Along with her husband they were the World Team Missions- Assistant Team Coordinators for Kazakhstan. Yvonne also served on numerous boards including Cedar Ridge Ministries for 10 years, President of the Womens Commission of Hagerstown, President of the Gideon's Society Womens Auxiliary, Washington County Museum Singer Society, AAUW where she also served as President and helped with the book sale, TriState Missions Committee and the local chapter of the DAR. She also was a substitute teacher for twelve years in Foley, AL and Washington County, MD.
She is survived by her husband 59 and 1/2 years William Edward Thomas; two sons, Scott Forrest Thomas of Hagerstown, MD and Matthew David Thomas and wife Monica of Fountain, CO; daughter, Elba Gloria Lopez de Loya of Mexico City; brother, Merle Edward Shirey, II of Ocean Pines, HI; five grandchildren, Sarah Thomas of Denver, CO, Shannon Thomas of Denver, CO, Matthew David Thomas, Jr. of Fountain, CO, Graycee Thomas of Fountain, CO and Michael Thomas of Fountain, CO; .
A memorial service at Tri-State Fellowship, Hagerstown, MD, will held in the near future.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Cedar Ridge Ministries 12146 Cedar Ridge Road, Williamsport, MD 21795 or to, Tri-State Fellowship Missions, 13153 Cearfoss Pike, Hagerstown, MD, 21740.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Douglas A. Fiery Funeral Home 1331 Eastern Blvd. North, Hagerstown, MD.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.douglasfiery.com
Published on April 19, 2021
Tribune-Democrat
Johnstown, PA
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
