Pettis County, Mo., Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary P. Thomas, widow of the late Logan P. Thomas, who died at her home, 1419 South Osage Avenue, at 12:45 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, will be held at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon at Gillespie's Funeral Home, Rev. T. W. Croxton officiating. Mrs. Thomas was 80 years of age and had been in failing health for several years, having only recently returned from the Wetzel hospital in Clinton.

She was born near Clifton City, Mo., May 23, 1868, the daughter of Thomas Potter and Lucy M. Ware. She was married to Logan P. Thomas on May 30, 1894 at the Potter home near Clifton City. For many years the Thomases jointly owned and operated the Thomas Book & Printing Co., formerly located at 111 East Second Street.

After the death of her husband September 27, 1922, Mrs. Thomas moved to Bolivar, Mo., the first time she had lived outside Pettis County. At Bolivar, she was the house mother of the Thomas home, a boarding home for students at Southwest Baptist College and was noted for her interest and aid given to boys and girls under her care. The Thomas Home was built as a memorial to her husband and Mrs. Thomas became known on the campus as "Mother Thomas."

Mrs. Thomas remained at Bolivar until 1939 when she was forced to retire because of age and failing health, which continued until the time of her death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were active members of the First Baptist Church and Mrs. Thomas was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Surviving Mrs. Thomas are the two brothers, A. A. Potter of 1616 East Ninth Street and J. A. Potter of Fort Worth, Texas; two nephews, Richard Potter of Sedalia and Carl K. Potter of Fort Worth, and five nieces, Marguerite Potter of Fort Worth, Mrs. Grace Potter Tippett of Sweetwater, Texas; Ona Ruth Potter and Mary Francis Potter of New Orleans and Mrs. Lois Potter Dillard of Warrensburg.

Mrs. Miles Rhodes and Mrs. Charles Farley, accompanied by Mrs. Clyde Williams, will sing "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" and "Rock of Ages." Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of the First Baptist Church. Active pallbearers will be C. N. Farley, Charley Farley, Ed Winchell, O. R. Catron, J. C. Dillard, and Richard Potter. Interment will be made in the Crown Hill Cemetery beside the grave of her husband.