A loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and aunt, Eva Mae Baker Thomas died Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at a local nursing center.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the First Baptist Church in Hamlin with the Revs. Donny Harbors and Stan Allcorn officiating. Burial will be in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery directed by Adams Funeral Home.
Eva was born May 18, 1924, in Gotebo, Oklahoma, to Alfred Mathias (John) and Ethel (Speck) Baker. She married Ned (Dick) Thomas January 2, 1948, in Wheeler, Texas. He preceded her in death March 16, 1996.
Eva and Dick made their first home in Weatherford, Oklahoma. They were wheat harvesters by summer and Dick worked as a carpenter the rest of the year. They moved to Breckenridge, Texas, in 1952. From Breckenridge, they moved to Hamlin where Dick worked in the oil fields and Eva worked for her best friend, Gracie Maberry, in the Bluebonnet Café. They lived at Nugent from 1958-1968. While there, they were able to adopt their two long-awaited for daughters who became the total focus of Eva‘s life. She was active at Nugent Baptist Church, cooking for pastors and Hardin-Simmons ministerial students, serving as soloists for worship services and providing childcare.
The family moved to Odessa in 1968. Eva was involved in PTA at Sam Houston Elementary serving on the board for five years and directed fund raising activities. She was involved in the mission activities of Trinity Baptist Church, teaching cooking classes and sewing choir robes and cantata costumes. She was a member of a TOPS club and served as Girl Scout leader. She kept neighborhood children and was a mentor to other mothers.
In 1975, the family moved back to Hamlin. Eva remained involved in her daughters' school activities, serving as sponsor on many band trips, youth group camps and parade float building. Known for her fried chicken, coconut cream pies and homemade bread, she hosted many dinners and teenage parties. She served as nursery director at First Baptist Church for 25 years. She had a daycare in her home where many children referred to her as "Mema" just as her own grandchild, Erica, did. She loved each and every one as her own grandchild.
She moved to Abilene in 2003 after illness prevented her from living independently any longer.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Roy Baker.
Survivors include two daughters, Arlieta Jones and husband Larry and Loeida Thomas, all of Abilene; four grandchildren, Erica Larry and husband Earvin, Olivia Jeffrey, Blake Jones and Sarah Jones, all of Abilene; three brothers, Buddy Baker and wife Betty of Sentinel, Oklahoma, Charles Baker and Ruth of Woodward, Oklahoma, Wayland Baker and wife P.J. of Tijeras, New Mexico; three sisters, Omega Perry of McLoud, Oklahoma, Opal Ragan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gwen Stallings of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one sister-in-law, Lucille Thomas Jones of Logan, New Mexico; numerous nieces and nephews and very special caregivers at Hendrick Healthcare Center.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the First Baptist Church in Hamlin with the Revs. Donny Harbors and Stan Allcorn officiating. Burial will be in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery directed by Adams Funeral Home.
Eva was born May 18, 1924, in Gotebo, Oklahoma, to Alfred Mathias (John) and Ethel (Speck) Baker. She married Ned (Dick) Thomas January 2, 1948, in Wheeler, Texas. He preceded her in death March 16, 1996.
Eva and Dick made their first home in Weatherford, Oklahoma. They were wheat harvesters by summer and Dick worked as a carpenter the rest of the year. They moved to Breckenridge, Texas, in 1952. From Breckenridge, they moved to Hamlin where Dick worked in the oil fields and Eva worked for her best friend, Gracie Maberry, in the Bluebonnet Café. They lived at Nugent from 1958-1968. While there, they were able to adopt their two long-awaited for daughters who became the total focus of Eva‘s life. She was active at Nugent Baptist Church, cooking for pastors and Hardin-Simmons ministerial students, serving as soloists for worship services and providing childcare.
The family moved to Odessa in 1968. Eva was involved in PTA at Sam Houston Elementary serving on the board for five years and directed fund raising activities. She was involved in the mission activities of Trinity Baptist Church, teaching cooking classes and sewing choir robes and cantata costumes. She was a member of a TOPS club and served as Girl Scout leader. She kept neighborhood children and was a mentor to other mothers.
In 1975, the family moved back to Hamlin. Eva remained involved in her daughters' school activities, serving as sponsor on many band trips, youth group camps and parade float building. Known for her fried chicken, coconut cream pies and homemade bread, she hosted many dinners and teenage parties. She served as nursery director at First Baptist Church for 25 years. She had a daycare in her home where many children referred to her as "Mema" just as her own grandchild, Erica, did. She loved each and every one as her own grandchild.
She moved to Abilene in 2003 after illness prevented her from living independently any longer.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Roy Baker.
Survivors include two daughters, Arlieta Jones and husband Larry and Loeida Thomas, all of Abilene; four grandchildren, Erica Larry and husband Earvin, Olivia Jeffrey, Blake Jones and Sarah Jones, all of Abilene; three brothers, Buddy Baker and wife Betty of Sentinel, Oklahoma, Charles Baker and Ruth of Woodward, Oklahoma, Wayland Baker and wife P.J. of Tijeras, New Mexico; three sisters, Omega Perry of McLoud, Oklahoma, Opal Ragan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gwen Stallings of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one sister-in-law, Lucille Thomas Jones of Logan, New Mexico; numerous nieces and nephews and very special caregivers at Hendrick Healthcare Center.
A loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and aunt, Eva Mae Baker Thomas died Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at a local nursing center.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the First Baptist Church in Hamlin with the Revs. Donny Harbors and Stan Allcorn officiating. Burial will be in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery directed by Adams Funeral Home.
Eva was born May 18, 1924, in Gotebo, Oklahoma, to Alfred Mathias (John) and Ethel (Speck) Baker. She married Ned (Dick) Thomas January 2, 1948, in Wheeler, Texas. He preceded her in death March 16, 1996.
Eva and Dick made their first home in Weatherford, Oklahoma. They were wheat harvesters by summer and Dick worked as a carpenter the rest of the year. They moved to Breckenridge, Texas, in 1952. From Breckenridge, they moved to Hamlin where Dick worked in the oil fields and Eva worked for her best friend, Gracie Maberry, in the Bluebonnet Café. They lived at Nugent from 1958-1968. While there, they were able to adopt their two long-awaited for daughters who became the total focus of Eva‘s life. She was active at Nugent Baptist Church, cooking for pastors and Hardin-Simmons ministerial students, serving as soloists for worship services and providing childcare.
The family moved to Odessa in 1968. Eva was involved in PTA at Sam Houston Elementary serving on the board for five years and directed fund raising activities. She was involved in the mission activities of Trinity Baptist Church, teaching cooking classes and sewing choir robes and cantata costumes. She was a member of a TOPS club and served as Girl Scout leader. She kept neighborhood children and was a mentor to other mothers.
In 1975, the family moved back to Hamlin. Eva remained involved in her daughters' school activities, serving as sponsor on many band trips, youth group camps and parade float building. Known for her fried chicken, coconut cream pies and homemade bread, she hosted many dinners and teenage parties. She served as nursery director at First Baptist Church for 25 years. She had a daycare in her home where many children referred to her as "Mema" just as her own grandchild, Erica, did. She loved each and every one as her own grandchild.
She moved to Abilene in 2003 after illness prevented her from living independently any longer.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Roy Baker.
Survivors include two daughters, Arlieta Jones and husband Larry and Loeida Thomas, all of Abilene; four grandchildren, Erica Larry and husband Earvin, Olivia Jeffrey, Blake Jones and Sarah Jones, all of Abilene; three brothers, Buddy Baker and wife Betty of Sentinel, Oklahoma, Charles Baker and Ruth of Woodward, Oklahoma, Wayland Baker and wife P.J. of Tijeras, New Mexico; three sisters, Omega Perry of McLoud, Oklahoma, Opal Ragan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gwen Stallings of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one sister-in-law, Lucille Thomas Jones of Logan, New Mexico; numerous nieces and nephews and very special caregivers at Hendrick Healthcare Center.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the First Baptist Church in Hamlin with the Revs. Donny Harbors and Stan Allcorn officiating. Burial will be in Hamlin Memorial Cemetery directed by Adams Funeral Home.
Eva was born May 18, 1924, in Gotebo, Oklahoma, to Alfred Mathias (John) and Ethel (Speck) Baker. She married Ned (Dick) Thomas January 2, 1948, in Wheeler, Texas. He preceded her in death March 16, 1996.
Eva and Dick made their first home in Weatherford, Oklahoma. They were wheat harvesters by summer and Dick worked as a carpenter the rest of the year. They moved to Breckenridge, Texas, in 1952. From Breckenridge, they moved to Hamlin where Dick worked in the oil fields and Eva worked for her best friend, Gracie Maberry, in the Bluebonnet Café. They lived at Nugent from 1958-1968. While there, they were able to adopt their two long-awaited for daughters who became the total focus of Eva‘s life. She was active at Nugent Baptist Church, cooking for pastors and Hardin-Simmons ministerial students, serving as soloists for worship services and providing childcare.
The family moved to Odessa in 1968. Eva was involved in PTA at Sam Houston Elementary serving on the board for five years and directed fund raising activities. She was involved in the mission activities of Trinity Baptist Church, teaching cooking classes and sewing choir robes and cantata costumes. She was a member of a TOPS club and served as Girl Scout leader. She kept neighborhood children and was a mentor to other mothers.
In 1975, the family moved back to Hamlin. Eva remained involved in her daughters' school activities, serving as sponsor on many band trips, youth group camps and parade float building. Known for her fried chicken, coconut cream pies and homemade bread, she hosted many dinners and teenage parties. She served as nursery director at First Baptist Church for 25 years. She had a daycare in her home where many children referred to her as "Mema" just as her own grandchild, Erica, did. She loved each and every one as her own grandchild.
She moved to Abilene in 2003 after illness prevented her from living independently any longer.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and an infant brother, Roy Baker.
Survivors include two daughters, Arlieta Jones and husband Larry and Loeida Thomas, all of Abilene; four grandchildren, Erica Larry and husband Earvin, Olivia Jeffrey, Blake Jones and Sarah Jones, all of Abilene; three brothers, Buddy Baker and wife Betty of Sentinel, Oklahoma, Charles Baker and Ruth of Woodward, Oklahoma, Wayland Baker and wife P.J. of Tijeras, New Mexico; three sisters, Omega Perry of McLoud, Oklahoma, Opal Ragan of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gwen Stallings of Albuquerque, New Mexico; one sister-in-law, Lucille Thomas Jones of Logan, New Mexico; numerous nieces and nephews and very special caregivers at Hendrick Healthcare Center.
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