Hugh Evan Thomas

1929 - 2016

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our father, Hugh Evan Thomas, aged 86, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2016, while sitting on his porch spending time with his dog while people watching park-goers across the street from his home. Dad was born December 4, 1929, in Prentice, Wisconsin, to Ivan and Lillie Thomas, homesteading farmers. He graduated from Prentice High School and immediately entered the Merchant Marine Academy in New York, attending for two years, leaving his studies to join the U.S. Army and a tour in Europe to perform post-war cleanup and reconnaissance. After leaving the Army, he moved to Northern California and worked as a logger. His logging career was cut short by a major accident. Soon thereafter, he met our mother, Janet, married and started a family. They decided to leave Smith River for an opportunity to raise their children in Tahoe, and dad started a job with the state government as an agricultural inspector. When the "bug station" closed, dad started his favorite career as a firefighter, where he rose through the ranks to retire as fire chief of Lake Valley Fire Department. After retirement, Dad and Mom moved to Grass Valley but spent most winters in Arizona in their fifth-wheel. Dad was an honest, principled man who was proud of his Scottish/Welsh heritage. He was a member of two clans and attended Scottish Games anywhere within driving distance. He was a train enthusiast and would find the nearest train tracks and sit for hours watching them pass. He loved his grandchildren, Jeff, Brian, Harrison and Matthew Thomas, Colin and Peter Muller, and Ashley Carlson and numerous great-grandchildren. He would drive for hours to catch their events, missing very few over decades. After our mother fell ill with Alzheimer's disease, he lovingly cared for her almost single-handedly for ten years until her passing. He is survived by his children, Randy (Andrea) Thomas, Scott (Cathie) Thomas, Shelley (Tom) Muller; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his brother, Griffith (Shirley); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; parents and two brothers, Raymond and James. His service will be held Friday, July 29, 2016, 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, 620 North Street, Woodland. A reception will follow at the home of his daughter and son-in-law. In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made in Hugh's memory to Mayo Clinic, Designation: Alzheimer's disease Research; or St Jude's Children's Hospital.