THOMAS

Richard Houston Thomas Sr., 77, a resident of the Pine-Thomas Community, died at 11:51 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2013, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Born June 20, 1935, he was a member of Pine First Baptist Church and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Army Reserve. He lived in Georgia and was a former police officer there as well as a jack-of-all trades working in construction, including roofing, electrical and A/C and heating.

He returned to the area in 1981 and developed a love of farming and working the land on his tractor. He coached little league baseball and women’s softball and was involved with the Explorer Post 254 in Pine, often traveling to their canoeing races in the region. Richard was known as “Cigar” for his ever-present cigar and he loved traveling with his wife to the Gulf Coast.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mazina Ann Williams Thomas of the Pine-Thomas Community, four sons and daughters-in-law, Richard Houston Thomas Jr. and fiancé Tara Hardy of Temple, Ga., Johnny Lee Thomas and Carolyn Thomas of Bremen, Ga., Keith and Sondra Thomas of the Pine-Thomas Community, and Michael Wayne Thomas and Claire Thomas of Slidell; 10 grandchildren and spouses: Dianna Michele Hull and Steve Hull, Darrell Mark Thomas, Dorothy Mazina Jean Thomas, Richard Houston Thomas III and Kathryn Thomas, Joshua Lee Thomas and Lindsey White Thomas, Pamela Nicole Thomas, Kimberly Shannon Thomas, Matthew Johnny Thomas, Tiffany Darleen Thomas and Brandon Keith Thomas; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Charner Leon Williams and Bobbie Williams of Florida, and Betty Lou Higgins of Georgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Houston Thomas and Myrtis Lee Knight Thomas; an infant brother; and stepmother, Neva Foil Wood Thomas.

Visitation was held Monday, March 25 at Crain Funeral Home from 6-10 p.m. and continued on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. David Easterling and the Rev. John Lowery officiating. Burial followed in the Thomas Cemetery.

Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.