Funeral services for Billie Sue Thomas, age 93, of Brownwood, will be at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church with Bro. Tim Skaggs and Bro. Bill Allen officiating with James Ervin leading music. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
Heartland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Thomas passed peacefully from this life on May 3, 2022. She was surrounded by family as she went to be with her Lord and Savior.
Mrs. Thomas was born in Owens, Texas on July 25, 1928, to Myrtle Simpson Shafer and John Clarence Shafer. She grew up on the family farm in Owens and lived most of her life in Brown County. She was baptized as a girl in a dirt tank in Owens.
She graduated from Owens High School and attended Howard Payne University. She retired from working as a Librarian at Brownwood ISD in 1989. She was initiated into the Blanket Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star on March 26, 1953, where she was a 61-year member and held all offices including Worthy Matron. She taught Training Union and Sunday School at Blanket Baptist Church. She became a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in 1960 where she served as Sunday School teacher and was active in numerous organized activities for many years. She loved her church and working with young children. She was a member of Retired Teachers. She was an active member of the Brown County Sheriff’s Possettes and supporter of and active in the Brown County Youth Fair Association.
Mrs. Thomas is survived by son, Gary Thomas and wife Rhonda of Early, daughters, Patti Caropepe and husband Ed of Kingsland, Sheri Adams and husband Larry of Gustine; ten grandchildren Bryan Dickerson and wife Monica, Christopher Dickerson and wife Cristin, Jayme Jones and wife Keisha, Amber Miller and husband Neil, Adriane Dill and husband Johnathan, Laramie Adams and wife Catherine, Jaryd Jones and wife Ashley, Matthew Thomas and wife Jennifer, Josh Caropepe and wife Jennifer, Eric Caropepe and wife Christina, and 23 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are sister-in-law Rita Thomas of Early and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gerald Thomas, sisters Berta Shafer, Bertha “Gyrlee” Thomas Turner, Aline Pittman and Ethelene Newsom, and brothers, Marvin, Bernie, Clyde, George and Talmadge Shafer.
The family gives special thanks to longtime caregivers Joy Bible, Irma Jamison, Helen Covey and Lupe Rodriguez, and Solaris Hospice for their dedication to Billie’s care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Coggin Ave. Baptist Church or Brownwood ISD Gerald Thomas Vocational Building, 2707 Southside Drive, Brownwood, 76801.
Condolences can be offered to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net