Mary Elizabeth Thomas

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Jan. 24, 1935-Nov. 6, 2006

Mary Elizabeth Thomas, 71 Brazil, died Monday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Born in Lee County, Iowa, she was the daughter of Harold and Alice (Halbasch) Griswold.

She graduated from high school in Washington, Ind., in 1952. She also graduated from Indiana State University with a bachelor's degree in home economics and a master's degree in guidance. She taught at Crawfordsville and Brazil High Schools for a short time before leaving to care for her children. After raising her family she returned to the education field and was a guidance counselor at Cloverdale High School and later finished her teaching career in Clay Community Schools.

She was a member of the Brazil Home Economics Club, Clay County Retired Teachers Association, Sarah Circle, Tri Kappa, Brazil First United Methodist Church, and YMCA of Clay County. She had also been a Cub Scout den mother and a sponsor for the United Methodist Youth Fellowship.

She married Amos Thomas on Dec. 23, 1956. He survives.

Also surviving are two daughters Amy (Thomas) Shelburne and husband Mike, Sheridan, and Nancy (Thomas) VanAllen and husband Frank, Ellettsville; four sons, Andrew Thomas, and David Thomas and wife Lea, and Benjamin Thomas and wife Susan, all of Brazil, and Mark Thomas and wife Jean, Martinsville; brother Harold Eugene Griswold and wife Sylvia, Baltimore, Md.; sister Patricia Griswold, Trafalgar; and 12 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Brazil First United Methodist Church with Pastors Frank VanAllen and Tony Alstott officiating. Burial will follow at Clearview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at French Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brazil First United Methodist Church or YMCA of Clay County.