Clara C Thomas

Clara Conley Thomas, 81, passed away April 16 at her home in Gulf Breeze after an extended hospital stay. Claire was born on June 16,1945 in Garrett, KY, and later lived in Amarillo, TX and Dayton, OH where she worked for the Air Force Base Exchanges. It was there she met her husband, Ret. Lt. Col. Austin K. Thomas, Jr., “Pepper.” They were married shortly thereafter on April 1, 1993, in Las Vegas, NV and she moved to Long Island, NY with him. Claire enjoyed traveling with her husband to locations all over the world too numerous to mention, and in her later years especially enjoyed regular trips to Biloxi, MS.

Claire loved her husband and her family. She adored her pets (dogs: Sassy and Rags, and cats: Fancy Pants, Cali, and Thumper). She is survived by, and will be missed by, her husband, Austin, of thirty-three years, her favorite niece, Debbie Jackson of Dayton, OH, her “daughter” Julia of Amarillo, TX, and her stepchildren, Zac Thomas of Dallas, TX and Leda Thomas Perry of Portsmouth, VA. She was preceded in death by her stepson Austin K. Thomas, III, “Trip,” who lived with her many years as well.

Claire’s final resting place is at Roselawn Cemetery in Gulf Breeze, FL, where she was interred along with her stepson, Austin, and her mother-in-law, Isabelle M. Thomas. Claire requested that no service be held at the time of her passing.

Godspeed and God Bless my wife, Claire!