Helen Faye Barrett Thomas passed away Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Christus St. Elizabeth. She was born in Oakdale, Louisiana, April 15, 1927. She was the second daughter of Arby Luther Barrett and Nora Lee Brown Barrett.
Helen grew up in Beaumont, graduating from Beaumont High School in 1945. After graduation, she went to work for Bell Telephone, as an operator. Helen had also worked for Kress’ and a grocery store.
During the war soldiers came to Beaumont from DeRidder Air Base for something to do. One of these soldiers was Gordon E. Thomas from Tampa, Florida. He followed her skating and then asked for a date. She invited him to go to church with her. They wrote back and forth as Gordon was deployed to Okinawa. He asked to marry her after he returned. Gordon returned from war via San Francisco and then on to El Paso, where he and three other soldiers rented a cab to Beaumont. Gordon and Helen were married March 14, 1946. They were married for nearly 61 years until Gordon’s death in 2007.
When the last of their four children started to school, Helen went to LVN school at Lamar University. She lovingly worked in Pediatrics at St. Elizabeth for 25 years.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gordon E. Thomas, one son, Steven G Thomas and one daughter, Patricia Ann Thomas Cherry, and two grandsons, and her sister, Edith Golden.
She is survived by her son, Wayne E. Thomas and his wife Laurie of Lumberton, and her daughter Linda Thomas soon to be of Lumberton, and daughter-in-law, Gladys Thomas of Lumberton. She is also survived by her grandsons, William Barrett Thomas and wife Christie of Lumberton, Ryan Thomas and his wife Lacy of Silsbee, Shane Thomas of Lumberton, and Joshua Cherry and his wife Christin of the Woodlands. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Stephanie and Jeff Toms of San Diego, Tara and Wayne Triana of Nacogdoches, and Shylee and Andrew Hunt of Orlando, Florida and 13 great-grandchildren.
A Gathering to Share Memories of Helen will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 11.
A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home at 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 11, officiated by Pastor Robert Ring. Burial will immediately follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
