1928 - 2024
A celebration of life for Yovenne Marie Thomas, 95, of Garber will be at 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at a later date at the Springhills State Veterans Cemetery at Spring Lake, NC. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 6-7pm at the funeral home. Yovenne passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in Enid.
Yovenne was born September 21, 1928 in Flint, Michigan to James Henry and Beryl (Crawford) Ostrom. She was raised on the family farm and attended school in Flint, MI. She went on to work at Angelo’s Coney Island Restaurant which led her to meet her soulmate, James Robert Thomas, whom she married March 21, 1953 in Flint, MI, and were happily married for 58 years until his passing. She was a proud and devoted Army wife, which led them to GA where they welcomed their son Floyd; the Army led them to Vicenza, Italy as a family before coming to Fort Sill, OK where they welcomed their daughter’s Annette and Robin, after they completed their family the moved to Fort Bragg, NC. In North Carolina Yovenne was the Cafeteria Manager at Ashley Elementary School in Fayetteville, NC and waiting for her beloved to return home from secret overseas missions, while not even knowing where he was. She spent most of her time looking after her children and helping with their activities: with baseball, coaching softball, volleyball fundraisers, church bazaars, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Yovenne was also active with the Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary, Arizona Chapter of Special Military Active Retired Travel Club (SMART) which she also held several offices, and she was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge where she also held several offices. She also enjoyed many hobbies including traveling, quilting, sewing, crafting, and cooking for large groups with SMART.
Yovenne was preceded in death by her beloved husband James Robert “Bob” Thomas, her parents, and all 9 of her siblings; her granddaughter Amber Stepha Hastings, and great grandson Byron James O’Rourke.
She is survived by her children, son Floyd Thomas (Marlene) of Pine Hurst, NC, daughter Annette Riggins (Richard) of Garber, and daughter Robin Stalnaker (Edward) of Enid, OK. Grandchildren: Theresa Thomas, Gary Lambert (Mindy), Kevin Painter, Mark Painter (Karlene), Thomas (TJ) Painter, Karie Christner, Damien Kono-Riggins, Nathon Kono-Riggins, Micah Kono-Riggins (Paige), Melissa Kono, Michelle Kono, and Kevin Stalnaker. Great Grandchildren: LeeAnn, Gary III, Robert, Kassandra, Brady, Cayde, Brayden, Brooklyn, Callum, Madilyn, Jaxon, Jaylynn Cooper, Cambridge, Malachi, Cadence, Felicity, Zachary, Cayla, Chase, Nala, Mya, Jupiter. Great Great Grandchildren: Daegan, Zayvier, Octavya, Gary IV, Brayleigh.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Our Daily Bread or Loaves and Fishes.
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