Dolores Thomas, beloved friend, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother died August 8 after a brief illness.

Born September 19, 1928 in Chillicothe, TX., Dolores was the fifth of eight children of Logan and Mary Etta Francis. From a young age she felt the call of God on her life to tell others of Jesus. That call led her to the University of Arkansas where she graduated in 1952 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Social Work. Dolores married Gordon Thomas on November 26, 1953 and moved to Springfield, Ohio where Gordon was pastoring. The Home Mission Board of the SBC appointed them in Feb. 1962 to upper New England. They began their missionary journey in Bangor, Maine. Dolores was widowed in 1976, yet stayed in Maine as the first single woman church planter for the HMB. She allowed no obstacles nor any boundaries to deter her from the call God had placed on her life. After 30 years of service in the autumn of 1992, she retired to her childhood home of TX. Dolores soon joined Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls and served faithfully there as the Sarah Class Sunday School teacher. She loved her church and the women of her class well until moving to Flower Mound in July 2015.

Services will be held at 12:00 noon, on Saturday, August 12, 2017, in the First Baptist Church of Quanah.  Rev. Larry Shields, of Faith Baptist Church, in Wichita Falls, will officiate.  Interment will follow at Quanah Memorial Park.

Dolores lived her days fully, whether boxing the pesky boys of Chillicothe as a fearless girl, hitting homeruns at Maine church picnics as a pastor's wife, or attentively listening to the joys and hurts of those who crossed her path. She laughed freely, loved completely and taught wisely. And she did it all with a song to mark any occasion, whether it was a beloved hymn, a tried and true ballad, or a ditty she composed to memorialize special celebrations.

Her wisdom, guidance and love never faltered as she kept her eyes focused on Jesus. Her absence has already and will forever leave an aching hole in our hearts, our homes and our lives. Yet the impact of her light and her life will shine through us as we love others and seek Jesus.

Dolores leaves behind countless friends, a host of nieces and nephews, three brothers, Kenneth, Denny and Barry, one sister-in-love, Delois, one brother-in-love, R.D., eight grandchildren and their five spouses, nine great grandchildren, and five very grateful children and children in love, Kyler and his wife Linda, Carol and her husband Will and Laura. We love you mom and we will see you again.

Memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church, 3001 Southwest Parkway, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76308.