Patricia K. “Caleb” Thomas, 82 of Pomona, KS passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2022, at home surrounded by her loving family.
Graveside services will be held later at the Munsee Indian Cemetery, 1599 Kingman Road, Ottawa, KS 66067.
Pat was born on November 24, 1939, in Ottawa, KS; the daughter of Joseph Ignatius and Grace “Chaney” Caleb. Her mother passed when she was only 4 months old and she was then raised by her uncle & aunt, Lester and Alice “Chaney” Parker.
Pat married her high school sweetheart, James L. Thomas on March 15, 1958, in Garnett, KS, and then their adventures began as he was in the United States Navy. They lived many different places for the next 17 ½ years until his retirement. They moved to Missouri and had a small farm and in time moved back to their home state of Kansas. They lived in Kansas for many years and then moved to Minnesota for a few years. They eventually moved back to Kansas where their children and grandchildren resided. Her loving husband, Jim preceded her in death on January 6, 2012.
Pat was a devoted lifelong homemaker and for a few years worked at North Shore Marina, Lake Pomona, KS as the Marina Attendant/Dock Manager. She enjoyed her time there and loved her years of camping with Jim. Her greatest joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She babysat her grandchildren and great grandchildren many times and her most favorite title was that of “Mamma”. She also loved planting flowers, listening to her birds as they ate and watching the squirrels eat and play. Her pets gave her so much joy and she had many that preceded her in death, and she left behind Bella, Roxie, Tiki and Tobi who will miss her deeply. She was loved by many and will be missed greatly.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Pamela and her son, Randal; husband, Jim; both sets of her parents, all her siblings, Joe, Clio, Mabel, Carol, Jean, George “Bud”, and Shirley. She was also preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Wilbur and Ruth Thomas, brothers-in-law, Larry Burgdorf, Ralph Church, Lynn Murray, Charles “Chuck” Thomas, and sister-in-law, Peggy Parker.
Pat is survived by her son, James K. Thomas and her daughter Laura K. (Randy) Baker all of Pomona, KS; two grandchildren, Amy Eneihen (fiancé Matt Hill) of Wichita, KS and Craig House of Topeka, KS. And four great grandchildren Wyatt Tarpy of Gardner, KS, Grace Eneihen of Pomona, KS, Autumn Eneihen and Hunter Garcia of Wichita, KS. She is also survived by her sisters and brother that she was raised with Sue Burgdorf and Steve Parker of St. Charles, MO and Melody (Jim) Duncan of Topeka, KS. She was also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also will be missed by dear friends, Butch and Linda Pulskamp of Winger, MN and Rhea Sanstead of Erskine, MN.
Pat’s Indian heritage was very important to her, and the family suggests memorial contributions to the Munsee Tribe in Kansas, PO Box 732, Ottawa, KS 66067.
