Obit for Dollie Bernice Vestal Thomas

Dollie Bernice Vestal Thomas, beloved wife of R. C. ""Joe"" Thomas and daughter of Alvin Lawrence and Gladys Willmon Vestal, passed away July 5, 2012. She is survived by her husband, son Roy Claud Thomas, Jr. and his wife, Candy, daughter Nela Brown, and four grandchildren--Robert Brown, Ryan and wife Lee Ann Thomas, Russell Thomas, and Neil and wife Amy Thomas. Her sister, Wanda Monogue, also survives her. Her sister Johnnie, infant sister Lurlene, brother ""junior"" and son-in-law Michael Brown predeceased her. She is also survived by four great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and their families. Dollie was born November 17, 1923, at Carmona, Texas, and spent all but a few years of her life in Polk County. After graduating from Livingston High School, she lived in Houston and then San Francisco and San Diego, California, during World War II where she worked while Joe was at sea in the Pacific in the US Navy. Dollie and Joe married in Reno, Nevada, on May 15, 1943.

She dedicated her life to her family. Dollie served as a Girl Scout Troop 2 leader, Sunday School teacher, and in many other ways encouraged her daughter and son to work hard, study hard, and be people of worth. She attended many of her grandchildren' activities and cheered for them to do their best. Her four ""perfect"" grandsons will always cherish the memories of special vacations, playing ball and spending time with Granny where what happened at Granny' stayed at Granny'. Her strong sense of duty to family caused her to always put her family' needs, including those of extended family, ahead of her own needs.

She also worked for may years in the office of Woody Reese, D.D.S.

Her family will be forever grateful to her caregivers, Debra, Grace, Maxine, Peggy, Denise and Pam. Thank you for making a difference.

Services will be held Sunday, July 8, 2012, at 2:00 PM at Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM before the service. Rev. Dickie Boddie will officiate. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers are Ryan Thomas, Russell Thomas, Neil Thomas, Robert Brown, James Smith and Johnny Phillips. Honorary Pallbearers are Woody Reese, Sr., Kyle Kuntz, Eldridge Striedel, Kenneth Baker and Glenn Vestal.

Dollie was a long-time, active member of Bethel Baptist Church in the Bold Springs community. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, 8815 FM 350 N., Livingston, Texas.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com