Helen ("Honey") Thomas

died Friday, June 1, 2012 quietly in her sleep at home in Sun City, Arizona. Born on August 5, 1909, she would have turned 103 years of age if she had lived until her next birthday. Mrs. Thomas was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to William Francis (“Frank”) Howe and Rena von Reumor Howe. She spent her early childhood in Omaha and lived for five years on the ranch her father operated in Brown County, Nebraska, on the banks of the Niobrara River. Her brother, Robert B., and she often rode their horses from the ranch to school in Bassett. She attended Central High School in Omaha and East High School in Sioux City, Iowa. She married Morris (“Tommy”) Thomas. They had a daughter, Sally, who lived in Miami, Florida, San Francisco, California, and Napa Valley, California. Mrs. Thomas was a member of PEO, the Junior League of Sioux City; the First Presbyterian Churches of Sioux City and Sun City; Union Hills Country Club and the Lakes Country Club of Sun City. She was an avid golfer, winning a number of club tournaments at the Sioux City Boat Club. Soon after Morris Thomas died in 1983, Mrs. Thomas moved to Sun City, where she and Morris had enjoyed winter vacations. She is survived by her former son-in-law, Felix R. Brunot, Jr. of San Rafael, California; great grandsons Bryan Brunot and Blake Brunot of New Jersey; niece Mariette Bell; and nephew G. Woodson Howe. She was predeceased by her daughter Sally and dear friend Earl C. Christensen of Sun City. A memorial service will be held in Sun City at a place and time to be determined. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City. Kindly omit flowers. Memorials may be sent to the PEO Foundation, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, attention to the Helen F. Thomas Scholarship Fund. Honorary pallbearers will be Gordon Ellis, Bob Showers, E.L. (“Buddy”) Sprague, Terry Doyle and Howard Quinn.