Billy Joe Thomas^[1]

Abt 1939 - 2004  (~ 65 years)

• Name	Billy Joe Thomas
  Born	Abt 1939
  Gender	Male
  Died	8 Jan 2004	Spokane, Washington   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I141825	Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest
  Last Modified	9 Sep 2013

  
  

  Father	James Edgar Thomas,   b. 14 Feb 1911, Sevier County, Tennessee ,   d. 9 Feb 1976  (Age 64 years)
  Mother	Neva Elvira Myers,   b. 4 Jun 1913, Tennessee ,   d. 15 Sep 1984  (Age 71 years)
  Family ID	F52699	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Sandra Jean "Sandee" Fish
  Married	1959
  Children	1. Teri Thomas,   d. Bef 8 Jan 2004   2. Michael "Mike" Thomas   3. Toni Thomas   4. Lori Thomas   5. Erica Thomas
  Family ID	F56173	Group Sheet

  
  

• Sources

  [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 25 Jan 1986. Ima Jean Justus obituary [S106] The Mountain Press, 17 Jan 2004. Billy Joe Thomas, 65, formerly of Sevier County, died on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, in Spokane, Wash.He was preceded in death by his daughter, Teri Thomas; parents, Jim and Vira Thomas; sisters, Lois and Kathaleen Thomas and Imogene Justus; brothers, Jackie, Jimmy, Ray and Eddie Thomas; and nephew, Bryan Thomas; and sister, Alma Jean Matthews.He is survived by his wife, Sandee Fish Thomas; son, Mike Thomas; daughters, Toni Newton and husband Dale, Lori Forness and husband Matt, and Erica Dedera and husband Brian; 10 grandchildren; brothers, Kent Thomas and wife Chris, of Massachusetts, Dale Thomas and wife Barbara, and Lowell Thomas and wife Helen; sister, Kaye Berry and husband Beecher; sisters-in-law, Bernice Thomas and Carolyn Thomas; and brothers-in-law, Clon Matthews, and Ernest Justus and wife Jean.Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Antioch Baptist Church with Michael Justus officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church. [S142] Newspaper Article, The Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA), 12 Jan 2004. Visitation for Billy Joe Thomas, 65, will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home. Memorial service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Foothills Community Church. Mr. Thomas, who died Thursday, was born in Sevier County, Tenn. He was a longtime resident of the Spokane Valley. He grew up on the family farm. When he was 18, he joined the Air Force and began training to become a B-52 mechanic. He was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. He married Sandra Jean Fish in 1958. Mr. Thomas was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam War. He and his family returned to Spokane and Fairchild, where he retired in January 1977. He then began his new career in plumbing, eventually partnering with a friend to open Alpha Plumbing. He enjoyed being outdoors. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Sandee; a son, Michael Thomas of Elk; three daughters, Toni Newton, Lori Forness and Erica Dedera, all of Spokane; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made to the Union Gospel Mission, 1224 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.