Rozella June Thoms

July 2nd, 1946 – September 24, 2026

Rozella “Rossi” Thoms, 80, passed away at home on September 24, 2026, surrounded by family.

She is survived by her sons, Robby Thoms and Renny Thoms and his wife, Maria “Mitchie” Thoms; brother Jerome “Jerry” Hoerger; half-sister Regina Penfold; step-siblings David Hoerger and Marianne Rogers; and grandchildren Shawn Rae Cervantes, Kaylee Renée Thoms, and Summer Roze Thoms. Her husband, Eugene “Gene” Thoms; sister, DeEtta “Dee” Hiatt; and parents, Amos and Myrna Hoerger, predeceased her.

Rossi was born in Gregory, South Dakota, to Amos and Myrna Hoerger. She grew up in the small towns of Hancock, Henderson, Moneta, and Archer in Iowa, and spent a short time in Mapleton, Oregon.

After high school, she worked at Frank’s Restaurant, where she met her future husband, Eugene Reed Thoms.

She proudly graduated from Oregon State University. Go Beavers!

Rossi married Eugene Thoms in 1968. They were married for 47 years until his passing in 2015. They loved traveling across the United States in their RV and taking cruises to Alaska and Hawaii.

Rossi was also an expert at jigsaw puzzles, solitaire, and sudoku. The family card game was always pinochle. She would want everyone to know that her green 1999 Toyota Sienna minivan was the best vehicle ever.

Her favorite holiday was Halloween. She always had hot chocolate, homemade popcorn balls, cookies, and, of course, candy available for everyone who came to visit.

She spent more than 30 years teaching second and third grade students. She made lifelong friends with the other teachers at Cottonwood Elementary.

She had a good heart and was loved by family, friends, and neighbors. She will be remembered, and she will be missed.

Her funeral will be held on October 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite charity