Gayle C. Thomas

Gayle was born to parents Ruby B. and Leon L. Murray in 1933, the fifth-born daughter in her family of six girls and one boy. In addition to her parents, Gayle was preceded in death by her sisters Phyllis Avitt, Alice Colleen Rasmussen, Marian Mikesell, and Donna Bauer. She was a graduate of Newton High School, in Newton, Iowa, class of 1952.

Gayle is survived by her husband, Leland E. Thomas, of Sherwood, to whom she was married for 65 years; daughters Deb (Dan) Rice of Kansas, Cindi Thomas of Sherwood, Sonja Thomas of Sherwood, and a son, Steve Thomas, of Florida; four grandchildren: Laura (Cody) Rea, Katie Thomas, Jenny Thomas, and Kimberly (Greg) Grenier, and five great-grandchildren: Angela, Ryan, Blake, June, and Townes. She also leaves behind extended family on both the Murray and Thomas sides, including her sister Sharron (Bill) Seaman and her brother Ron (Iva) Murray, sisters-in-law Nelma (Bob) Hysell, MaryAnn (Roger) Christensen, and Judy (John) Lazell, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends from her neighborhood and her church.

Gayle loved visiting with her family and friends, and a reunion with those who have preceded her to heaven will include much laughter, as it always did here on earth.

Gayle was a homemaker, and followed her Air Force military-career husband to every post and base possible, including several in Hawaii, California, and Japan. She made each generic military house into a beautiful home for her family. During those years, she enjoyed bowling, ceramics, reading, and exploring the wonderful locations they were stationed with her fellow military wives (NCO Wives’ Club).

After husband Lee’s retirement from the USAF, Gayle and Lee hit the road in their motorhome, enjoying time with their S*M*A*R*T camper club friends, and selling jewelry and military memorabilia at military bases around the country. She enjoyed making crafts and hand-made gold wire name jewelry to sell and to give as gifts.

From the family: Our thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Grace At Home Senior Care, Kindred Hospice, and a very special thank you to Sonja Thomas, for being Mom’s primary caregiver in the home for these last few years. Your love and care for Mom is surely what kept her with us as long as she was.

Home-going services will be at 9:00 am on Wednesday, Sept. 8th at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, (Sherwood) North Little Rock, AR 72117 There will be a visitation one half hour preceding the funeral service, from 9:00 to 9:30, at the funeral home.

Donations in Gayle’s memory to the American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org/) would be appreciated.

A private burial will be at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas, for family members.