In Memory

Larry F. Thomas

Larry F. Thomas

 
 
 

LARRY THOMAS

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"Today is a beautiful day in Allen, Texas," words that touched so many and defined the way that Larry Thomas viewed life. It could be raining, hailing, or freezing but to Larry, every day was beautiful. Larry passed away in Allen, Texas, on October 10th, 2013.

Even though ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) prevented him from walking, using his hands, and in the end even breathing well, he would still say "I can still see outside, and it's a beautiful day!" This sums up the amazing positive attitude Larry shared with others throughout his life. He liked to say he lived with "an attitude of gratitude," a powerful gratitude to God for all he was given. He inspired and encouraged so many people with his grateful outlook on life. Larry's life was an example for others demonstrating how to handle difficult circumstances with grace.

Faith was an important part of Larry's life. He was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he gave the morning welcome. He was asked to give a sermon, and was very humbled by this experience. After moving to Allen, Texas, in 2012, he regularly attended Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

Larry was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 5th, 1945, to Albert and Constance (Arnold) Thomas. He spent most of his childhood in Eastern Washington and graduated from Pasco High School, class of 1964. Larry worked in the newspaper industry throughout his 35-year career. He worked at several newspapers including over 20 years at the Tri-City Herald. He worked his way up from a paper delivery boy to a newspaper publisher, demonstrating the value of hard work and setting professional goals.

No obstacle could deter him once he set his mind to something, and he demonstrated this many times over. When he wanted to build a new house for his family, he read a book and did it. When he became interested in photography, he built his own darkroom and learned how to develop pictures. When he wanted to ride a motorcycle, he bought a Harley and leathers. Larry had many hobbies and passionately pursued things of interest to him.

Larry met Connie Rae Brokaw on a blind date at the Benton-Franklin County Fair. They fell in love and were married in 1967. Larry and Connie have been constant partners in life for the last 47 years. They were dedicated parents and had a very close relationship with their children, daughter Jennifer and son Jason. The family spent so much time together and had amazing adventures including camping at Mount Rainer, rock collecting, deep sea fishing, gold panning in Alaska, and hiking throughout Washington State and Alaska. There are innumerable funny stories of good times spent together. Larry taught his family the importance of being a dreamer and living life in a positive meaningful way. He took pride in being a loving husband and father, demonstrating how to follow your dreams and live life to the fullest.

Larry's passing was preceded by his parents and brother, Albert. Larry is survived by his beloved wife Connie Thomas of Allen, Texas. Children Jennifer Sharpe and husband Derek of Richardson, Texas, Jason Thomas and wife Ayako of Maple Valley, Washington; six grandchildren; siblings Sharon Dailey of Pasco, Washington; Joanne Thomas, Nancy Thomas, and Lyle Thomas of Kennewick, Washington; Gene Thomas of Spokane; and his life-long best friend Eldon "Butch" Smith of Port Orchard, Washington.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 18th, 2013, at Faith Assembly Christian Center, 1800 N. Road 72, Pasco, Washington 99301. Donations to honor Larry can be made to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org.


 
Published in Tri-City Herald on Oct. 15, 2013
 
 
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LARRY THOMAS

Obituary
Be the first to share your memories or express your condolences in the Guest Book for LARRY THOMAS.
 
 

"Today is a beautiful day in Allen, Texas," words that touched so many and defined the way that Larry Thomas viewed life. It could be raining, hailing, or freezing but to Larry, every day was beautiful. Larry passed away in Allen, Texas, on October 10th, 2013.

Even though ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) prevented him from walking, using his hands, and in the end even breathing well, he would still say "I can still see outside, and it's a beautiful day!" This sums up the amazing positive attitude Larry shared with others throughout his life. He liked to say he lived with "an attitude of gratitude," a powerful gratitude to God for all he was given. He inspired and encouraged so many people with his grateful outlook on life. Larry's life was an example for others demonstrating how to handle difficult circumstances with grace.

Faith was an important part of Larry's life. He was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he gave the morning welcome. He was asked to give a sermon, and was very humbled by this experience. After moving to Allen, Texas, in 2012, he regularly attended Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

Larry was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 5th, 1945, to Albert and Constance (Arnold) Thomas. He spent most of his childhood in Eastern Washington and graduated from Pasco High School, class of 1964. Larry worked in the newspaper industry throughout his 35-year career. He worked at several newspapers including over 20 years at the Tri-City Herald. He worked his way up from a paper delivery boy to a newspaper publisher, demonstrating the value of hard work and setting professional goals.

No obstacle could deter him once he set his mind to something, and he demonstrated this many times over. When he wanted to build a new house for his family, he read a book and did it. When he became interested in photography, he built his own darkroom and learned how to develop pictures. When he wanted to ride a motorcycle, he bought a Harley and leathers. Larry had many hobbies and passionately pursued things of interest to him.

Larry met Connie Rae Brokaw on a blind date at the Benton-Franklin County Fair. They fell in love and were married in 1967. Larry and Connie have been constant partners in life for the last 47 years. They were dedicated parents and had a very close relationship with their children, daughter Jennifer and son Jason. The family spent so much time together and had amazing adventures including camping at Mount Rainer, rock collecting, deep sea fishing, gold panning in Alaska, and hiking throughout Washington State and Alaska. There are innumerable funny stories of good times spent together. Larry taught his family the importance of being a dreamer and living life in a positive meaningful way. He took pride in being a loving husband and father, demonstrating how to follow your dreams and live life to the fullest.

Larry's passing was preceded by his parents and brother, Albert. Larry is survived by his beloved wife Connie Thomas of Allen, Texas. Children Jennifer Sharpe and husband Derek of Richardson, Texas, Jason Thomas and wife Ayako of Maple Valley, Washington; six grandchildren; siblings Sharon Dailey of Pasco, Washington; Joanne Thomas, Nancy Thomas, and Lyle Thomas of Kennewick, Washington; Gene Thomas of Spokane; and his life-long best friend Eldon "Butch" Smith of Port Orchard, Washington.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 18th, 2013, at Faith Assembly Christian Center, 1800 N. Road 72, Pasco, Washington 99301. Donations to honor Larry can be made to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org.


 
Published in Tri-City Herald on Oct. 15, 2013
 
 
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Read more here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tricityherald/obituary.aspx?n=larry-thomas&pid=167548506#storylink=cpy

"Today is a beautiful day in Allen, Texas," words that touched so many and defined the way that Larry Thomas viewed life. It could be raining, hailing, or freezing but to Larry, every day was beautiful. Larry passed away in Allen, Texas, on October 10th, 2013.

Even though ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) prevented him from walking, using his hands, and in the end even breathing well, he would still say "I can still see outside, and it's a beautiful day!" This sums up the amazing positive attitude Larry shared with others throughout his life. He liked to say he lived with "an attitude of gratitude," a powerful gratitude to God for all he was given. He inspired and encouraged so many people with his grateful outlook on life. Larry's life was an example for others demonstrating how to handle difficult circumstances with grace.

Faith was an important part of Larry's life. He was an active member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington, where he gave the morning welcome. He was asked to give a sermon, and was very humbled by this experience. After moving to Allen, Texas, in 2012, he regularly attended Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

Larry was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on October 5th, 1945, to Albert and Constance (Arnold) Thomas. He spent most of his childhood in Eastern Washington and graduated from Pasco High School, class of 1964. Larry worked in the newspaper industry throughout his 35-year career. He worked at several newspapers including over 20 years at the Tri-City Herald. He worked his way up from a paper delivery boy to a newspaper publisher, demonstrating the value of hard work and setting professional goals.

No obstacle could deter him once he set his mind to something, and he demonstrated this many times over. When he wanted to build a new house for his family, he read a book and did it. When he became interested in photography, he built his own darkroom and learned how to develop pictures. When he wanted to ride a motorcycle, he bought a Harley and leathers. Larry had many hobbies and passionately pursued things of interest to him.

Larry met Connie Rae Brokaw on a blind date at the Benton-Franklin County Fair. They fell in love and were married in 1967. Larry and Connie have been constant partners in life for the last 47 years. They were dedicated parents and had a very close relationship with their children, daughter Jennifer and son Jason. The family spent so much time together and had amazing adventures including camping at Mount Rainer, rock collecting, deep sea fishing, gold panning in Alaska, and hiking throughout Washington State and Alaska. There are innumerable funny stories of good times spent together. Larry taught his family the importance of being a dreamer and living life in a positive meaningful way. He took pride in being a loving husband and father, demonstrating how to follow your dreams and live life to the fullest.

Larry's passing was preceded by his parents and brother, Albert. Larry is survived by his beloved wife Connie Thomas of Allen, Texas. Children Jennifer Sharpe and husband Derek of Richardson, Texas, Jason Thomas and wife Ayako of Maple Valley, Washington; six grandchildren; siblings Sharon Dailey of Pasco, Washington; Joanne Thomas, Nancy Thomas, and Lyle Thomas of Kennewick, Washington; Gene Thomas of Spokane; and his life-long best friend Eldon "Butch" Smith of Port Orchard, Washington.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 18th, 2013, at Faith Assembly Christian Center, 1800 N. Road 72, Pasco, Washington 99301. Donations to honor Larry can be made to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org.



 
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10/17/13 01:54 AM #1    

Allen Johnson

On February 29,  2012, I had a wonderful conversation with Larry.  He was struggling with Lou Gehrig's disease and finding that he had to depend more and more on others.  "Do you ever feel embarrassed or humiliate to have to ask for help," I asked.

"At first I did," he said.    "Then I realized that by not asking them for help, I am depriving them of the joy of helping another human being.  That I could not live with."  Then Larry went on to say, "I’ve just been moved by how people have been willing to help.  My neighbor came to the door the other day and announced that they were going to the store; could they pick something up for us?  I thought that was so kind."

We could all learn from Larry's capacity to both give and receive love.


10/17/13 12:14 PM #2    

Lynda Mangum (Willis)

I'm saddened to hear Larry lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.  I am also relieved to know that Larry has "no more sorrow, nor crying, nor pain." Rev. 12:4.  All his suffering has passed away!.  I whispered a prayer of comfort for his family, asking God to wipe away their tears and lightened their heavy hearts.  Lynda Mangum Willis.


02/01/14 02:04 PM #3    

Joe Boyd

Larry, Karl Palmer, Butch Smith and I got together shortly after my wife passed away.  When Larry learned I had a bass boat, he jumped at my invitation to take him fishing that spring.  He showed up at my place, bright and early, with trout fishing gear.  Fortunately, I have plenty of bass outfits, so I set him up with a couple of mine.  His first comment: "I've never used hooks that big."  I live about two minutes from Lake Whatcom, so we were on the water quickly.  It took awhile for Larry to differentiate between a bite and rocks on the bottom.  I'd caught about three fish when Larry suddenly went, "wow!"  I looked back, and his rod was bent almost double.  He hooked (and lost) a nice smallmouth--about two pounds.  We got a good view of it before it jumped and shook the hook free.  "OK, I'm ready now," he said.  He landed the next one, a smaller fish, but scrappy.  When we got back to the boat launch, Larry seemed to be a bit unsteady.  I kidded him that he didn't have his sea legs yet.  He told me later that his balance issues that day were the first signs of ALS.   I always feel kind of a twinge when I think about that outing; the weather was perfect, the fish were biting, and we had a wonderful time together, yet he also was experiencing the early symptoms of a disease that would eventually take his life.  We made plans to fish other lakes that year and in the future.  Of course, those plans never panned out, due to the onset of the disease.  We had lunch together at my place before he headed back to Port Orchard.  He assured me that next time he would have his sea legs and we'd haul in some trophy bass. That was in 2010. There was no next time.  We (Karl, Butch, Larry, and I) met up a couple times after that.  Each time Larry was a little weaker, but always smiling.  I have a picture of him holding up his fish and smiling broadly.  That's how I will always remember him.         


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