BLAYNE THOMAS

Blayne Thomas passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2012. He was 80 years old. Blayne was born April 15, 1932, in San Pedro, Ca. to Douglas N. Thomas, a career Naval Officer, and Norma Pinnock Thomas. Blayne enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for two years. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served another four years. Blayne attended college in Los Angeles, where he met and married his true love and eternal companion, Jan Larsen Thomas. Soon, thereafter, they moved to the Clovis area where he completed his education at Fresno State University. Over the past 55 years, Blayne and Jan raised their three children, Brad, Brian and Becky, and established deep roots in the Clovis community. During their years in Clovis, Blayne was in the insurance business. He was in management with Travelers and Hartford Insurance Companies. He later established his own independent insurance agency that ultimately grew into ThomCo Insurance. Blayne also created and operated a dog training business for general obedience, home security and police K-9 patrols. In addition, for 54 years, Blayne was an integral and key part of his wife's business, the Jan Thomas Swim School. Blayne was always civically minded. Giving back to his community was part of who he was. He served on the Clovis City Council, the Board of Trustees of the Clovis Better Business Bureau, and for the past 25 years, on the Clovis Cemetery District Board of Directors. Blayne's and Jan's membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was and is central to their lives. Blayne served in many leadership and service capacities, and together with his wife, served a mission to the Baltimore, Maryland area. Their membership in the church has given them the guidance needed to raise their family in a loving and caring environment. Devotion for, and obedience to, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, have always been Blayne's first priority and at the center of everything he did. Blayne blessed the lives of so many and his presence will be missed by his family, friends and community. Blayne is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jan; his three children and their spouses, Brad and Patricia, Brian and Barbara, and Becky; six grandchildren, Chelsea, Brooke, Natalie, Trevan, Ethan and Riley; and three great-grandchildren, Kaden, Tige and Reese. A Visitation will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 220 N. Peach Ave. in Clovis, on Friday, May 18, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at the church on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, C/O LDS Philanthropies, 15 E. So. Temple St, #2E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150.