Keum Ja Thomas

It is with sadness that the family of Keum Ja Thomas, age 88, beloved wife, devoted mother, adoring Oma, and great-little grandma, announce that she passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home on the 13th of August. It’s not easy to condense such a well-lived life into a couple of paragraphs, but I’ll try.

Born in Korea in 1935, Keum Ja lived through some of the world’s most significant events. She had the most interesting stories to tell, especially to her grandchildren. While working at a hospital, she met the love of her life, Jim Thomas. He was her one, and she was his only. They were married in 1962, and their marriage spanned over 60 years. Keum Ja was always contemporary, ahead of her time, and an intelligent businesswoman. She was an entrepreneur and owned several service stations before retiring to take care of her husband. Keum Ja was constantly on the go and thought idleness was a character deficit. She wasn’t afraid to try new technology, and I can still hear her voice hollering at Siri to call one of her children. Trust me when I say a Korean accent yelling at Siri is hilarious. Keum Ja loved Asian soap operas, though she would never admit it. When her grandchildren visited, it was no coincidence how familiar they were with the storyline. Especially curious since they do not speak Korean. Keum Ja was an avid gardener and could make anything grow. If she put her thumb in the ground, I feel certain she could have grown a person. She could often be found bent over some flower or vegetable in her garden. Sometimes even in a tree. Even at the glorious age of 81, Keum Ja was often seen climbing her pear tree and covering the pears with newspaper. She battled the birds for those fruits every year. She was a devout woman, but she hated grackles.

Keum Ja and Jim were members of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, where they were tireless and selfless volunteers. She would share all that she had and was a generous humanitarian. If you knew Keum Ja, you would know she felt that one of the most important things to be is kind. She had a servant’s heart and felt everyone deserved grace. Her walk with Christ and her family were the most important things to her.

Keum Ja was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her son, Chris, and her grandson, Jimmy. She missed her husband every single day since he’d been gone and was ready to join him, her son, and her grandson. We feel an overwhelming sense of comfort knowing they are all reunited.

Keum Ja was survived by her children Christine, and husband Paul Carlile, Richard Asato, Faie and husband Ron Chavez, and Tina and husband Mike Taylor; grandchildren Marion, Thomas, Justine, and Jasmin; great-grandchildren; Jayden, Malachi, Jameson, Rafael, and Jordyn.

Rosary Service will be held at Crawford-Bowers on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 8:00 am, followed by visitation from 9:00-10:00 am. The funeral is planned for Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 11:00 am at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church, followed by 1:00 pm at the Veteran’s Cemetery.

I’m leaving you comfort from a gracious lady, my mom. It’s a verse from a song she loved in one of her favorite movies, To sir, with Love. My mother loved anything Sidney Poitier was in; he was her favorite actor. There's a creative change, but she always got the words wrong to songs; she passed that gene on. Just know that it defines her love for her family and friends. “If you wanted the sky, I’d write across the sky in letters, that would soar a thousand feet high, to you, with love.”

Proverbs 31:31 “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise…’’