Obituary of Carol Ann Thomas

Carol Ann (Phipps) Thomas was born in the Nipawin area on August 6, 1947 to Frank and Violet Phipps. She was the youngest of 4 children, and a large extended family.  Carol’s mother passed away when she was a newborn. She was raised by her half sister May (Bob) McAuley and Grandmother (Kate).  At the age of 6 her father remarried to Annie Aitken.  The family then moved to Elgin, Manitoba.  She spent her summers back in Saskatchewan with her sister May.  Carol finished her grade 10 education and moved away from home.  In 1967 she moved to Brooks, Alberta, working as a waitress and nanny, and welcomed her first child Cody.

In 1969, she answered a housekeeping advertisement placed by Alan Thomas in the Western Producer and moved to the Battlebend area.Three months later on March 29, 1969 they were married in Brooks.  Alan always said it was cheaper to marry her than it was to pay wages.  With this union they were blessed with 6 more children.

Carol enjoyed flowers, collecting bells, making quilts, and gathering together with friends and family.  She was involved with 4-H, Horse driving clubs, making quilts, a member of the Lorraine Ladies Club and was a key founder of the Battle River Ride for Stars fundraiser in the Castor area.  She always had a spot at the big round dinner table and no one left hungry. Extended family and friends were always welcome.

She spent many summers community homesteading with her extended family. This included berry picking, canning, gardening, and baking. During harvest Carol would bring meals out to Alan and the working men in the field. During this time many stories and memories were made and shared. When short a hand in the field, Carol would be found driving a team of horses with a fully loaded rack up to the separator.

Carol’s family spread across the prairies from Ontario to the Western shores of BC. She had so many near and dear friends who helped raise the children, and shared her joys and struggles.  She held them dear to her heart.  She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Violet, her grandmother Kate, her step mother Annie, her half-sister May, her sister Doreen and her brother Don.

Carol leaves to mourn her husband Alan Thomas, her 7 Children Cody (Elisha), Annie Marie (Dean Desautels),  Bonnie May (Marco Van’t Klooster), Jacquelynn (Evan Medin), Ernest Henry, Irene Louise (Rick Barnes), Alan Derek Donald (Anita Pickett). She was loved by 27 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren along with her brother Frank.