Earl Cameron Thomas

Earl Cameron Thomas, 88, of Sanford passed away peacefully Thursday, September 16, 2021.

Mr. Earl will lie-in-state at 2:00 pm with funeral services following at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Olivia Presbyterian Church.  Following the service, the family will gather in the Olivia Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.  Masks are requested during the service and visitation.

Earl is survived by the loves of his life: wife of 66 years, Mary (Cat); daughters, Ruth Thomas (Mike) of Sanford and Ann Cornell (Dwight) of Naples, Florida; and grandsons, Austen Cornell (Lauren) of Jacksonville, Florida and Jordan Cornell of Charlotte, North Carolina; and great-grandsons, Foster Thomas Cornell and Cameron Paul Cornell, both of Jacksonville, Florida.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh Cordies Thomas and Lizzie Kate Cameron Thomas.

Earl was born in Harnett County to the late Hugh Cordies Thomas and Lizzie Kate Cameron Thomas.  Earl worked and help run the family farm throughout his life. After graduating from Benhaven High School in 1951, he worked for various companies and later ran his own business. He completed his service with the United States Army in 1955 and United States Army Reserve in 1961, He joined the Civil Service at Fort Bragg in 1955 and retired after 33 years of service in 1988.

Earl and Cat were married in 1955.  He cherished his wife and family.   He was passionate about singing, boating and all kinds of fishing. Earl sang for The Neighbor’s Quartet as well as the Olivia Men’s Presbyterian Church Quartet.   He and his family spent a great deal of time at Oak Island, North Carolina. They travelled to visit their children and grandchildren in Texas, Florida and Belize. Other travels took them to the California, Maine and Alaska. He had never met a stranger and was blessed to call so many great people his friends.

During retirement, he had the great pleasure to work for Robbie and Jeff Yow of ChatLee Marine in Sanford` delivering boats to various boat shows and to new boat owners all over the South.

The family would like to give special recognition for his FirstHealth Hospice caregivers; LaWanda Tanner, RN, Jessica Smith, LCSW, and Angi Womack, CNA as well as his homecare assistant, Naomie Gaster.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 251 Campground Road, West End, NC 27376 and Olivia Presbyterian Church, 3363 Olivia Road, Sanford, NC 27332.

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