Bobbi Thomason

Audry "Bobbi" Thomason , 94, of Fresno California, passed away on November 25,2023. She was born on November 15, 1929, the second of three beautiful daughters to the late Ross and Willie Copeland in Crowell,Texas.

Bobbi was a dedicated wife, mother and career woman. She loved her family dearly and cherished the small farming communities of the Valley where she lived.

Bobbi is survived by her son Rodney Thomason and his wife Courtney of Fresno, her daughter Deborah Thomason and her husband Charles Erickson of Phoenix, Arizona her grandchildren Nicholas Thomason and his partner Nicole, and Kristina Thomason, all of Fresno and Elisabeth DeFehr and her husband Daniel of Oregon City, Oregon. She is also survived by her great grandchildren , Hunter, Cyrus, Lewis , Karla and Julian. Bobbi also leaves two dearly loved sisters, Billie Newby of Madera and Brenda Ramsay of Snohomish, Washington along with many nieces and nephews.

Bobbi was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Lewis Thomason and her husband of 15 years Pete Gambetta, her son in law Jeremy Wyndham, her son in law Wiliam Doody and her grandson Jonathan Lewis Eaton.

Bobbi was a proud member of the Dos Palos High School class of 1948. After many business endeavors around the Firebaugh community, she and her husband Lewis founded Thomason Tractor Company in 1967. Bobbi derived great satisfaction from her work and was always deeply concerned about the well-being of the employees and customers. As the years went on Bobbi and Lewis also established almond orchards in Madera County of which they were very proud. Although she was a working wife, mother and grandmother , Bobbi's family was always her first priority, and she took very good care of everyone. So dedicated was she to her business and family that when Lewis died in 1995, Bobbi took over the running of the dealership and the orchards. She also served on the Board of Directors of United Security Bank in which she and Lewis had been deeply involved. Bobbi did this at a time when women did not often take on these roles. She did not do this to prove a point , she did it because it needed to be done. With her determination and fortitude she unwittingly became a mentor and role model for women of her generation and generations to come.

As a woman of faith, Bobbi worshipped at the Methodist Church in Madera and in her later years loved to attend bible study.

She enjoyed playing golf and was a Member of the Madera Golf and Country Club where she and her friends were known for often playing 36 holes in a day .

A Funeral service to honor Bobbi's beautiful life will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Whitehurst Chapel , 836 E. Nees Avenue, Fresno. Following the service, an internment will take place at Fresno Memorial Gardens. All arrangements are being handled by Whitehurst Funeral Home.

Bobbi will be missed by her family , friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her dedication to her family, community, and work will always be a treasured memory. May eternal light shine upon her, may her soul rest in peace.

The family requests that remembrances be sent to Saving Teens in Crisis Collaborative at www.savingteens.org