COLBURN THOMASON

Colburn Reed Thomason, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2017, at his Fresno residence surrounded by his family. Colburn, affectionately known as "Burnie" by friends and family, was 81 years old. Burnie was born on January 4, 1936, in Sacramento, CA, and raised in the Snelling Merced area. In addition to working on his family's grain ranch, he collected old car parts from local farmers that he would use to rebuild Model A and Model T cars. While a student at Merced High School, he was a member of the football, track, and golf teams. After graduating in 1953, he attended the University of Nevada, in Reno, NV, and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and the UNR Golf Team. He transferred to Fresno State College to complete his education and it was where he met his future bride, Valdene Robinson. Valdene and Burnie were married on June 11, 1960, and they would have celebrated their 57th anniversary this year. Burnie began his career in the banking industry in San Francisco, CA. He ultimately decided to return to the valley to pursue a career in real estate. This decision resulted in a 60 year career in the Central Valley and northern California. Initially, Burnie started in real estate sales. In 1963, he met Scott Ellis and formed the partnership known as Ellis and Thomason Construction. Together, they built many apartment complexes and commercial buildings throughout Fresno and the Central Valley. Ellis and Thomason had the fortune of good luck and timing, which resulted in great success over the years and a wonderful partnership. Eventually, the original Ellis and Thomason partnership was expanded as Scott and Burnie joined the Wathen family in a joint venture known as WWE&T. Burnie also realized his dream of founding a local community bank to support small businesses throughout the Central Valley. At the young age of 37, he obtained the banking charter and established the Bank of Fresno. The bank opened its doors in July of 1973, and Burnie served as Chairman of the Board for ten years. In addition to his banking endeavor, Burnie recognized the need for a local title company and was part of the group that founded and operated Central Title. Burnie always enjoyed a challenge, so when he was invited to serve on the St. Agnes Hospital Board of Directors, he gladly accepted. His contribution and commitment to the hospital occurred during a period of change and expansion, which provided Burnie the opportunity to utilize his real estate and financial expertise. His love for family was undeniable, and was the motivation to establish a family business known as Thomason Development Company, which is currently managed by his sons, Jon and Michael. In the early years of Thomason Development, Burnie expanded his business to northern California. Prompted by his passion for golf, Burnie acquired Gold Hills Golf Club in Redding, CA, and Shields Crest in Klamath Falls, OR. Over the following three decades, he vastly improved the courses and subdivided the surrounding land. In an effort to return to his roots, Burnie started a small "hobby" farming operation on his family's former farm land. He believed that with the new technology of drip irrigation, the hills could be more than open grazing or dry farming land. With hard work, Burnie's hobby developed into a Thomason family farming operation, which now encompasses substantial acreage of almond trees and an interest in an almond processing plant. Burnie had an amazing intellect, an unrivaled aptitude for numbers, and a life long passion for learning. He was an avid reader of non-fiction books and was knowledgeable in a variety of subjects. He was an accomplished athlete who enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, fishing, hunting, and going on golf trips. He was a member of San Joaquin Country Club, La Quinta Country Club, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club for many years. As a longtime Bear Backer for the University of California, Berkeley, he attended countless Cal football and basketball games. Go Bears! His interest in sports also included spectating at many San Francisco Giants and 49er games. He cherished time spent with friends and family in Shaver Lake and Aptos, CA. Burnie loved his canine companions, Bear and Oski, who were always by his side, be it at the office, the golf course, or on the almond ranch. Although Burnie had many great accomplishments in life, it was his love and dedication to his family that will forever be remembered. He often expressed that all that matters is family and the rest is just an interesting way to pass the time. He was immensely proud of all of his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments. Burnie touched the lives of many people and leaves an extraordinary legacy. In addition to his wife, Valdene, Burnie leaves behind three loving daughters and their husbands, Kimberly and Simon Harris, their sons, Mark, Gregory, and Patrick; Kelly and Kenneth Magill, and their children, Christopher and Katherine; Michelle and Eric Sprague, and their children, Connor, Jack, Shelby, and Lauren. He also leaves behind two devoted sons and their wives, Jon and Kathleen Thomason, and their children, Jessica, Colburn, and Spencer; Michael and Amy Thomason, and their children Luke, Morgan, Nicholas, Blake, and Piper. Burnie is also survived by his brother, Robert and wife his Bettina, and their family. He will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews; and by family friend of 40 years, Doris Young. A private family Funeral Service was held May 30, 2017, where Burnie was interred at St. Peter's Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Burnie's Life on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. This event will be held at The Falls Event Center at 4105 West Figarden Drive, Fresno, CA 93722. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014; or directed to Cedars-Sinai for kidney cancer research under the direction of Dr. Robert Figlin. Checks payable to Cedars-Sinai should be sent to Robert A. Figlin MD, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd. Suite 1S30, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Lisle Funeral Home, 1605 'L' Street, Fresno, California (559)266-0666