THOMAS, Dorothy Louise

Mohave Daily News, Mohave Valley, AZ - Published in Mohave Daily News Online from January 25 to February 1, 2012 - Dorothy Louise Thomas, age 93, an 8-year resident of Bullhead City, Ariz., passed into the loving arms of Jesus on January 19, 2012, in Bullhead City, due to respiratory failure and complications from a stroke suffered in September of 2009. Dorothy was born November 11, 1918, in Mexico, N.Y., the fourth of five children of Charles Alvin and Clara (Snow) Stevens. Her early years were spent in Oneida, N.Y. She attended school in Durhamville, N.Y. She was employed at the Oneida Limited Silver Factory. Dorothy married Thomas Charles Thomas on December 1, 1945, in Oneida N.Y. at the First Baptist Church. They made their home in Oneida until 1947, when they moved to Lynwood, Calif. At the age of 47, Dorothy went back to school, graduated, and became employed as a Nurses Aide at Mission Hospital in Huntington Park, Calif. Dorothy and Tom also resided in Long Beach, Calif., and Wildomar, Calif. She was active in her church and cared for several elderly friends. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading, and later in life she became an avid player of card games. She always enjoyed having her family and friends around her, and managed to keep them close by partly because she was a wonderful cook. Dorothy was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. Her children were always loved and cared for as her number one priority. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Clara (Snow) Stevens; infant son, Arthur; sister, Hazel (Stevens) Fritsch; and two brothers, Robert and Lyle Stevens. She will always be loved and greatly missed by her husband of 66 years, Tom; daughter, Christine (Don) Josephson of Sidney, Mont.; two sons, Tom of Bullhead City, Ariz. and Andrew (Yvette) of Charleston, S.C.; brother, Charles Rufus Stevens of Zephrhills, Fla.; two grandchildren, Jonathan and Michal Thomas of Hemet, Calif.; three step-grandchildren, Michelle (Trevor) Dishon, Kimberly (Willi) Schilling, Matthew (Breanne) Josephson; six step-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends. Her Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the Church of the Nazarene, 1746 E. Joy Lane, Mohave Valley, Ariz. Arrangements are under the care of Dimond & Sons Silver Bell Chapel, 2620 Silver Creek Road, Bullhead City. (928)763-5440