Mary Elizabeth Thomas

Mary Elizabeth Thomas passed Tuesday, January 26th into the arms of her Lord and Savior surrounded by her loving family. Mary, her husband Ken, and family moved to Naples from Binghamton, New York in 1969 and never looked back! They had many wonderful times on the beach, boating,shopping, dining and enjoying the lovely ambiance of Naples. Mary was a fantastic mother, a terrific wife to Ken for 47 years, and a great friend to many. We will rejoice in our memories of her kindness, patience, generosity and sage advice.

She will be sorely missed by her five children, Evelyn (George) Leamon, Barbara (Joe) Dexter, Helen(Siguard) Smith, Kenny (Barb) Thomas, and Sandy (Brian) Brock. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren, Brett (Malissa) Dexter, Ryan (Christina) Dexter, Jessica (Jon) Pettus, Mary Beth(Serge)Glass, Kevin Thomas, Matt (Alma) Thomas, Nikki Warner and her adoring 12 great grandchildren.

Many thanks to the assisted living facilities at Brookdale and Aston Gardens for their excellent care. We are also indebted to her personal caretaker, Maggie, for her loyalty and devotion to our mother. You were her guardian angel! Thanks also to the marvelous staff at Vitas Hospice. Your help and support was much appreciated during this difficult time.

Family and friends are welcome to gather at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens on Sat. 01/30/2021 from 11-12 with funeral services beginning at 12:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest next to her husband immediately following the service.

Reflections For My Mother

By Sandra Brock

I would like to share some special thoughts with all of you today as I Honor my dear beautiful mother Mary Elizabeth Thomas. A few standout qualities about my mother. First, my mom loved people, she enjoyed the opportunity to share her home and her table with others. You were always welcome, and there was “always room for one more and plenty of food for everyone”.

She started early planting this seed in her grandchildren – they loved having Tea Party’s with grandma. For myself growing up and as an adult, I remember Sunday dinners, a beautifully set table that always included candles, delicious food like roasts with real mashed potatoes (no instant for mom) and at least three vegetables… oh and pie, any kind of pie for my brother-in-law George and if my brother Kenny was coming for dinner, chocolate or lemon pie, his favorites. Indeed, mom’s kitchen was the heartbeat of her home; mom cooked like this until she was l close to 90 years old. Thank you, mom, for sharing this gift of hospitality and love for others, with me.

Secondly, mom loved the Lord. I believe that both my mother and father lived by the motto “if you live your life by putting God first, family second and work third, you will have a good life”. When I was asked to think about what scripture to put on the memorial cards for mom’s service, I wanted to choose something that I felt truly reflected her relationship with God. I chose Proverbs Ch3: Verses 5 & 6. I consider this scripture to be Rewards of Wisdom. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding”. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”.

It was never unusual to stop by and visit mom and find her bible or a devotional book on the table. Whenever I needed some “sage advice” on life from mom, she would always encourage me to put my faith in God and trust him to lead me. To me, these two verses reflect that faith and trust mom was talking about.

If I want my life to be the best it can be, I must put my total faith and trust in God. That also means I must dismiss the idea that I can solve my own problems and that I do not need God, for this is foolish thinking. God’s guidance and wisdom will get me through whatever problems life brings – my job is to trust and obey him. Thank you, mom, for helping me to learn this very valuable Proverb.

In closing, I want to thank God for giving you to me as a mother for almost sixty years. Not only were you my mother, but you were my best friend. I can honestly say “God Blessed Me With You”! I know you have been ready for awhile to go home to the Lord, it was hard for me to let you go, but I do believe together you and God helped to prepare me for this transition – both of you always looking out for me. One last time mom – “I love you and God Bless you”.

Words from Evelyn:

When I was young I enjoyed memorizing and reciting poetry. One of my mother's favorite poems was" Out to Old Aunt Mary's" by James Whitcomb Riley. I suppose she liked it because her name was Mary and it was about two young brothers who loved to visit and spend time with their Aunt Mary. As the poem begins the boys are now men and one brother is sharing with the other about the good times spent with Aunt Mary and also that their Aunt has passed. It is a very long poem so I will give you the edited version. In other words, the verses I remember.

Old Aunt Mary's (1899)

by James Whitcomb Riley

Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine,

In those old days of the lost sunshine

Of youth—when the Saturday's chores were through,

And the "Sunday's wood" in the kitchen, too,

And we went visiting, "me and you,"

Out to Old Aunt Mary's?—

"Me and you"—and the morning fair,

With the dewdrops twinkling everywhere;

The scent of the cherry-blossoms blown

After us, in the roadway lone,

Our capering shadows onward thrown—

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

It all comes back so clear to-day!

Though I am as bald as you are gray,—

Out by the barn-lot and down the lane,

We patter along in the dust again,

As light as the tips of the drops of rain,

Out to Old Aunt Mary's

The last few houses of the town;

Then on, up the high creek bluffs and down;

Past the squat toll-gate with its well-sweep poll;

The bridge, "the old 'baptizin'-hole',"

Loitering, awed, o'er pool and shoal,

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

We cross the pasture, and through the wood,

Where the old gray snag of the poplar stood,

Where the hammering "red-heads" hopped awry,

And the buzzard "raised" in the "clearing"-sky

And lolled and circled as we went by

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Or, stayed by the glint of the redbird's wings,

Or the glitter of the song that the bluebird sings,

All hushed we feign to strike strange trails,

As the "big braves" do in the Indian tales,

Till again our real quest lags and fails—

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

And the woodland echoes with yells of mirth

That make old war-whoops of minor worth!...

Where such heroes of war as we?—

With bows and arrows of fantasy,

Chasing each other from tree to tree

Out to Old Aunt Mary's!

And then in the dust of the road again;

And the teams we met, and the countrymen;

And the long highway, with sunshine spread

As thick as butter on country bread,

Our cares behind, our hearts ahead

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.—

For only, now, at the road's next bend

To the right we could make out the gable-end

Of the fine old Huston homestead—not

Not half a mile from the sacred spot

Where dwelt our Saint in her simple cot—

Out to Old Aunt Mary's.

Why, I see her now in the open door

Where the little gourds grew up the sides and o'er

The clapboard roof!—And her face—ah, me!

Wasn't it good for a boy to see—

And wasn't it good for a boy to be

Out to Old Aunt Mary's?—

Words from Barbara:

Nothing gave her greater reward or deeper satisfaction, than seeing that her children’s welfare was protected. She got us to church, and taught us the old hymns that were so scriptural, provided homemade delicious food on the table, saw to it we had good shoes, well maintained teeth, and music lessons!

It was our mother who made a difference in our destiny!

She grew up knowing deprivation and adversity by living through the Great Depression and was thoroughly convinced her children would never experience that lack. Therefore, having worked her way through college, Mom was able to balance work outside the home with motherhood thus becoming an original modern day working woman! Very rare in her day.

So it is with gratitude and pride that I thank Mom for a job well done.

Barbara Dexter