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Submitted: 8/15/21 • Approved: 8/16/21 • Last Updated: 8/19/21 • R1386418-G1386418-S3
Aug 18, 1933 - Apr 10, 2021
OBIT
Frankie Mae Ray Thomas, 87, of Jacksonville, passed away April 10, 2021. She was born August 18, 1933 in Arkadelphia to the late Frank Wash Ray and Zettie Mae Collie Ray. She was the middle child of fourteen children and was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Dean Joseph Ray, Frank Houston Ray, Lawrence Randolph Ray, Willard Raymond Ray; four sisters, Emma Adele (Ray) Briner, Ruby Alene (Ray) Keith, Georgia Fay (Ray) Bishop, Betty Jane (Ray) Rice and one grandson, Philip A. Thomas.
Frankie was a 1951 graduate of Bismarck High School. On March 15, 1952, she married her classmate, Arlie Thomas, from Bismarck, Arkansas. They recently celebrated sixty-nine years of marriage. She accompanied Arlie throughout the world as he went from one duty station to another serving in the United States Air Force. In August 1952, she joined him in England, and then on to France, Arkansas, Louisiana, Spain, Morocco, back to Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii and back again to Arkansas where Arlie retired in 1971 and they were finally able to settle down and call Jacksonville home.
While being a wonderful supportive wife, mother, and homemaker, she sold Tupperware, then jewelry, in a home party environment. Frankie later became a successful, top AVON Sales Representative in Jacksonville, where she worked for thirty-six years. She loved meeting and servicing new customers and making new friends along the way.
Frankie loved to cook and made the best buttermilk biscuits from scratch. She would serve them with homemade jelly, one of her favorites, and they were loved by many. Frankie decorated cakes through the years for special occasions including birthdays, weddings and Christmas, to name a few. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers. She also loved to sew and later in life she and Arlie quilted quilts together. Frankie loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved the Lord and enjoyed listening to Gospel music.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-nine years, Arlie Thomas; children, Beverly Thomas, Kathy Hester, Patrick (Melissa) Thomas and Dorothy (Kerry) Tabor; eight grandchildren, Rebecca (Josh), Chrystal, William, Jonathan, Benjamin (Talor), Matthew, Kasey (Justin) and Kenzy (Brian); nine great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; four sisters, Thelma Jean (Ray) Hughes, Mary Lucille (Ray) Hardin, Bonnie Louise (Ray) Boyd and Margie Lee (Ray) Heki; one brother, Gifford Wash Ray and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home, 501-982-2136.
Contributed on 8/15/21 by eagle12953
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Record #: 1386418