Alan Eugene Thomas

Alan Eugene "Al" Thomas, age 82, of La Grande, and formerly of Wallowa County, died September 28, 2011 at a local care facility. A memorial service will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

Mr. Thomas was born on October 31, 1928, the son of Adrian and Gertrude (Starr) Thomas in Corvallis, Oregon. His step-father was a logger and commercial fisherman and he and Al together built two 40 foot fishing boats. He lived and was schooled in various places on the Oregon Coast before enlisting in the United States Navy. After his honorable discharge he worked in the logging industry in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. In 1977 he married Deloris McBath. They lived in Squim, Washington for three years and lived in Wallowa and Union Counties over the years.

He was a member of the NRA. He was always a busy man working on cars, repairing things and helping neighbors. He loved fishing, hunting and gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Deloris Thomas of La Grande; children, Paula Thomas of Newport, Guy Thomas of Bend, Jess Pryce of La Grande and Nadine Layfield of Newport; step-children, Renee Sullateskee of Bellingham, Washington, Reba Gibson of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Melody Wilcox of Elgin, Illinois; seven grandchildren; half-sister, Clarice Kaplan of Seattle and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn Thomas; step-son, Mark Markham and brother, Elton LeRoy Thomas.

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