Melva Thomas
Funeral services for Melva (Ward) Thomas, a Coalgate resident were held Sunday, February 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Coalgate with Bro. David Unsell officiating, assisted by D. Clay Mowdy. Burial was in the Ward Family Cemetery with Brown’s Funeral Service of Coalgate in charge of arrangements. Viewing was Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brown’s Funeral Chapel.
Mrs. Thomas was born February 17, 1941 to Joseph Eldridge and Laura Mae (Snoddy) Ward in Coalgate and passed away February 1, 2023 in Tulsa, OK at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 15 days. She married Bobby Zane Thomas June 21, 1958. He preceded her in death on February 20, 2019. Melva, a lifetime resident of Coalgate, attended Coalgate High School where she was inducted into the Coalgate High Schools Basketball Hall of Fame. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and a 4-H Leader. Melva was a full-time mother and rancher who loved her cattle and chickens as well as cooking and sewing. She liked watching Fox News, the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and OSU. Melva’s favorite times were spent with all of her family. She loved watching her grandchildren show their animals and play sports, and taking her great-grandchildren to feed the animals around the ranch. Melva will be missed most by those who knew her as “Mom”.
Survivors include her children, Sonya Holliday and husband Dave of Bixby, OK, Mark Thomas and wife Robyn of Lehigh, OK, Greg Thomas, Lana Thomas, both of Coalgate and Alejandra Landa of Querataro, Mexico; grandchildren, Hailee Miller and husband Matt of Tulsa, OK, Colt Thomas of Moore, OK, Hillary Myers and husband Dave of Bixby, OK, Chance Garcia of Los angeles CA, Heath Holliday and wife Mychelle of Clarkville, TN, Laynie Thomas and fiance’ Will DeLaVega of Durant, OK, Landon Jelley and husband Brendon of Scottsdale, AZ, Taitum Thomas of Lehigh, OK and Reece Garcia of Coalgate; greatgrandchildren, Madden, Max and Maverick Myers, Rhett Miller, Mia, Houston and Henry Holliday and Lyvia DeLaVega; siblings, Barbara Girod of Glenpool, OK, Maxine Pulliam of Bristow, OK, Jim Ward and wife Carol of Kiowa, OK, Doug Ward of Coalgate and Vernon Ward of Fittstown, OK; special daughter, Susan Sallee of Coalgate; sisters-in-law, Murl Ward, Betty Baskett Ward, both of Coalgate and Sue Flowers of Atoka, OK; brother-in-law, Pete Thomas of Coalgate; along with a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins and dearly loved friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Zane Thomas; parents, Joseph Eldridge and Laura Mae (Snoddy) Ward; brothers, J. C. Ward, Burney Ward, Jack Ward and wife Joyce, Bill Ward and wife Billie Jean and Don Ward; sisters, Alta Mae Ward, Betty Wilson and husband Irlan and Mary Cravens and husband J. O.; brothers-in-law, Roy Girod and Kenneth Pulliam.
Casketbearers were Colt Thomas, Reece Garcia, Chance Garcia, Heath Holliday, Matt Miller, David Myers, and Brendon Jelley. Honorary bearers were Frank Shores, Frank Cometti, David Shores, Larry Bart Pope, D. Clay Mowdy, Warren Wilson and Ralph Wilson.
Condolences may be sent to the family by email to: brownsfscoalgate@sbcglobal.net. Please reference the name of the deceased in your correspondence.