Shirley Ann Thomas

 Shirley Ann Thomas, 81, of Vinita, passed away peacefully at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, on the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023. She had commented, “I want to be in Heaven for Jesus’ birthday!”, and she made it.

She was born at home; December 15, 1942, in Shaw, Mississippi, to Roy and Lorene (Chadwick) Thompson. She was educated in Shaw and on July 18, 1960, she married the love of her life Ernest Perry Thomas in Greenville, Mississippi, where he was stationed at Greenville AFB. Ann worked as a nurse’s aide in several hospitals during the 20 years her husband was active in the Air Force. Ann and Perry moved to Vinita in 1977 when Perry retired. She went to work at Autumn Homes Nursing Center for several years as a Dietician until her first grandchild came along and she chose to become a fulltime homemaker so she could help take care of her grandbabies so they would never have to go to a daycare.

Ann was a member of the White Oak Baptist Church, in White Oak. She loved her church family and was active preparing food for church events.

She enjoyed crocheting, reading, tending to her plants, and cooking meals for her family, especially on holidays.

Above all, she loved her family. Her husband, of 63 years, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandsons all had a special place in her heart and she will be missed by all who knew her.

Preceding Ann in death are her parents, Roy and Lorene Thompson, brother, William Thompson, sister, Zadie Dale Thompson, a grandson, Justin “Bubba” Thomas, daughter-in-law Terry Thomas and step-granddaughter Kora Carter.

Beloved wife and mother, she is survived by her husband Perry, of the home; son, Ernest P. “Ernie” Thomas II of Vinita; and daughter, Charlene Hayes and husband Todd of Vinita; grandchildren, Steven Hayes and wife Lane, Sean Hayes and wife Tiffany, Sloan Hayes and wife Haylee, all from Vinita. Kasey Eggenberg (Thomas) and husband Steven of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Kayla Thomas of Springfield, Missouri, two step grandchildren Ray Thomas and wife Dominique; Katie Knight and husband Matthew; 20 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandsons; siblings, Pat Laney of Vinita, Roy Thompson Jr. and wife Kathy of Florence, Mississippi; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.