Imogene Thoma

Imogene Price Thoma (1920-2012) passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 15 in her home in Dallas, Texas. She was born to J. Dee and Carrie Evolyn Price on the family’s homesteaded ranch in Mt. Dora, New Mexico.

After attending school in Mt. Dora and Grenville, NM, Imogene graduated from New Mexico State University. She was working for the U.S. Home Extension Service in Roswell, NM, when she met and later married her husband, Edward C. Thoma. After running the Mission Trading Post there, they moved in 1950 to a ranch in Wheeless, Oklahoma, 20 miles west of Boise City. There, the Thoma family reared two children while running a successful cow-calf operation, which Imogene successfully managed on her own with the help of her neighbor Bob Dawson after her husband’s early passing in 1965.

Imogene returned to Mt. Dora in 1975 when she purchased from her brother the family ranch on which she was born and raised. She continued to manage the ranch remotely from Dallas beginning in 2001 after moving there to receive medical treatment and live near her daughter’s family.

Her lasting legacy may be in the impact that she had on other people. Never one to complain or criticize, Imogene always put others before herself. Her kindness and love for others touched not only those she knew well, but also those who were only fortunate enough to meet her a few times. Her mother was a pastor’s daughter, and learning from her example, Imogene always found great strength and comfort in the word of God.

Imogene is survived by her son Carl, daughter-in-law Marilynn, and son-in-law Dan Patterson; her grandchildren Margo and Mark Thoma, Carrie and Cody Patterson; her great-granddaughter Teresa Thoma; and her nephews Bob and Bill Price and their families. She will be deeply missed by all.

Imogene’s funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Kyle Bueermann and retired pastor Billy Rammage at the First Baptist Church in Clayton, NM, at 11 am on Thursday, December 20. Visitation will be held at Hass Funeral Home from 10 am to 8 pm on Wednesday, December 19.