Harry Lee "Corkey" Thomas

August 5, 1928 - August 10, 2014 In Loving Memory Harry Lee “Corky” Thomas Born 5 August, 1928 Died 10 August, 2014 at age 86 Memorial Service: Thursday, August 28, 2014 1:30 PM Fort Logan National Cemetery Staging Area B 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO ‎ (303) 761-0117 Harry will be buried with a full AirForce honor guard. The ceremony will be 20 minutes long, and on time. Fort Logan is very active, so they keep a precise military schedule. Funeral Home Malesich Shirey Funeral Home 5701 Independence St, Arvada, CO ‎ 80002 (720) 242-6784 ‎ www.malesichandshirey.com Home Address, Margo James Clark (Daughter and Son-In-Law) 7295 W 62nd Ave Arvada, CO 80003 (720) 620-0555 Please feel free to call me if you'd like to talk about Dad, and I love to hear stories about him. Flowers or plants can be sent to the funeral home or to the home of Margo James. Any contributions toward burial expense would be appreciated, as Dad had significant medical bills this year. This is a short biography of a great and humble man, Harry Lee “Corky” Thomas, although he would never admit to the “great” part. As his daughter, I am blessed to have been a part of his life, and to be able to call him my Father. On July 29th, 2014, Dad had a major stroke and lost the use of his left side. Unlike prior hospital visits, he was very serene and peaceful. More than anything, Harry wanted to be at home, and not in a hospital or nursing home. On Sunday, August 3, 2014, Dad came home from the hospital, and my husband, James Clark, and I cared for him 24x7, with the assistance of hospice care. Our pastor, Mark Runner, visited Dad frequently over the years, and near the end, Dad wasn't worried about anything. The day he had the stroke, Corky said, “Jesus isn't quite ready for me yet, He needs a little more time.” All of the nurses at the hospital wanted to take Dad home. Harry was the youngest of twelve children, eight of whom survived past infancy. Dad was the last survivor of William Page, Glen, “Moses” Roy Houts, Margaret Ruby, Ralph, Seth, and Oscar Lee Thomas, Junior. His father, Oscar Lee Thomas, was a watchmaker and had a clock shop in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Lola Page Isley Thomas, his mother, was a great mother and awesome cook! His Dad died when Corky was twelve years old, in 1940. William Page was a pilot in World War II and crashed his plane in Tunisia, on the North African front. He is buried in Oran, Algeria. Moses served his country as well, and was then a Hillsborough policeman until his retirement. In the ‘80s, Hillsborough put all its officers on motorcycles, but changed the policy after Moses crashed the first week (with minor physical injuries but a huge ego fracture). Margaret Ruby was one of the first members of the Women's Nursing Core in WWII, and she was in England for D-Day. She cared for the arriving wounded soldiers for 36 hours straight, napped for a couple of hours, and then started over again. Ruby then became a private nurse in Manhattan, and had many elegant gowns with the long gloves, for going to shows and fancy restaurants. When Lola Page had a stroke in the ‘60s, Ruby left here career and came home to Hillsborough to care for her mother until she died in 1979. Uncle Glen drove an 18 wheeler and could put it through the eye of a needle without breaking a sweat. He knew every great restaurant on the East Coast. Uncle Seth was a highway patrolman and Ralph was military, as well. Oscar Lee, Junior was career military, as well, and his son Kenneth was like a son to Harry. Ken carries on the family tradition of singing Barbershop Quartet music. Corky joined the Navy when he was 17 years old, after High School graduation. He served for six months, but the war ended before he was deployed, and he was honorably discharged. Next he moved home to Hillsborough, and worked in the furniture factory for a couple of years. One time, he cut off the tip of his finger, and his boss was very upset because he bled all over the furniture and ruined it. Next, Dad attended Elon College for two years, and then joined the Airforce at age 23. He served in occupation Germany and France, then Libya, back in the States, and Thailand in the late ‘60s. Dad married LaVora Herschel White in the late 50's, and had two step-daughters, Rachel LaVora and Marsha Helen Livingston. I was born in 1960, Margaret “Margo” Helene Thomas. LaVora and Dad split up in 1964, and later I was able to live with Dad from 1970 until 1974. (the best years of my childhood). Finally, there's the miracle of the past 4 ½ years. In December 2009, Dad had agreed to move to Colorado and I had a trip planned to Wendell, North Carolina to pack Dad up and bring him here. A week before that, he checked himself into the hospital with kidney stones. The hospital moved him to a rehab facility, and told me they were preparing Dad to move him back home. My cousin Ken Thomas went to see Dad a couple of days later and said he couldn't get a fork to his mouth, could barely talk, and he was jerking all over. Even though I had a flight for the next week, my husband James told me I had to go out immediately, so I flew to NC the next day. When I saw Dad, he was in such bad shape, that I thought he had had a stroke. I called his doctors and they said to ‘911' him back to the hospital immediately. In less than two hours after tests, the doctors and staff rushed into his room then started racing Dad to surgery, while I signed papers on the way. His kidney was blocked and infected and he had developed sepsis. He was hours away from all of his organs shutting down. As soon as he was well enough, we moved Dad out to Colorado, and had a great 4 ½ years. We went to the top of Pike's Peak, Mt. Evans, and Long's Peak. We spent many hours just driving everywhere in the mountains, one of Dad's favorite activities. We also had many meals at great restaurants, Dad's favorite past time! My husband James always took great care of Dad, and they truly loved one another! There was nothing that James wouldn't do for Dad, including a lot of personal care toward the end. James often made Dad's dinner, and he always made a salad. I joke that James took better care of Dad than I did (well, maybe not a joke). We were so blessed to have Harry for the extra time, and we can't wait to see him again in Heaven where we'll be praising God, having a coffee with Jesus, and dancing forever.In Loving Memory Harry Lee “Corky” Thomas Born 5 August, 1928 Died 10 August, 2014 at age 86 Memorial Service: Thursday, August 28, 2014 1:30 PM Fort Logan National Cemetery Staging Area B 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO ‎ (303) 761-0117 Harry will be buried with a full AirForce honor guard. The ceremony will be 20 minutes long, and on time. Fort Logan is very active, so they keep a precise military schedule. Funeral Home Malesich Shirey Funeral Home 5701 Independence St, Arvada, CO ‎ 80002 (720) 242-6784 ‎ www.malesichandshirey.com Home Address, Margo James Clark (Daughter and Son-In-Law) 7295 W 62nd Ave Arvada, CO 80003 (720) 620-0555 Please feel free to call me if you'd like to talk about Dad, and I love to hear stories about him. Flowers or plants can be sent to the funeral home or to the home of Margo James. Any contributions toward burial expense would be appreciated, as Dad had significant medical bills this year. This is a short biography of a great and humble man, Harry Lee “Corky” Thomas, although he would never admit to the “great” part. As his daughter, I am blessed to have been a part of his life, and to be able to call him my Father. On July 29th, 2014, Dad had a major stroke and lost the use of his left side. Unlike prior hospital visits, he was very serene and peaceful. More than anything, Harry wanted to be at home, and not in a hospital or nursing home. On Sunday, August 3, 2014, Dad came home from the hospital, and my husband, James Clark, and I cared for him 24x7, with the assistance of hospice care. Our pastor, Mark Runner, visited Dad frequently over the years, and near the end, Dad wasn't worried about anything. The day he had the stroke, Corky said, “Jesus isn't quite ready for me yet, He needs a little more time.” All of the nurses at the hospital wanted to take Dad home. Harry was the youngest of twelve children, eight of whom survived past infancy. Dad was the last survivor of William Page, Glen, “Moses” Roy Houts, Margaret Ruby, Ralph, Seth, and Oscar Lee Thomas, Junior. His father, Oscar Lee Thomas, was a watchmaker and had a clock shop in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Lola Page Isley Thomas, his mother, was a great mother and awesome cook! His Dad died when Corky was twelve years old, in 1940. William Page was a pilot in World War II and crashed his plane in Tunisia, on the North African front. He is buried in Oran, Algeria. Moses served his country as well, and was then a Hillsborough policeman until his retirement. In the ‘80s, Hillsborough put all its officers on motorcycles, but changed the policy after Moses crashed the first week (with minor physical injuries but a huge ego fracture). Margaret Ruby was one of the first members of the Women's Nursing Core in WWII, and she was in England for D-Day. She cared for the arriving wounded soldiers for 36 hours straight, napped for a couple of hours, and then started over again. Ruby then became a private nurse in Manhattan, and had many elegant gowns with the long gloves, for going to shows and fancy restaurants. When Lola Page had a stroke in the ‘60s, Ruby left here career and came home to Hillsborough to care for her mother until she died in 1979. Uncle Glen drove an 18 wheeler and could put it through the eye of a needle without breaking a sweat. He knew every great restaurant on the East Coast. Uncle Seth was a highway patrolman and Ralph was military, as well. Oscar Lee, Junior was career military, as well, and his son Kenneth was like a son to Harry. Ken carries on the family tradition of singing Barbershop Quartet music. Corky joined the Navy when he was 17 years old, after High School graduation. He served for six months, but the war ended before he was deployed, and he was honorably discharged. Next he moved home to Hillsborough, and worked in the furniture factory for a couple of years. One time, he cut off the tip of his finger, and his boss was very upset because he bled all over the furniture and ruined it. Next, Dad attended Elon College for two years, and then joined the Airforce at age 23. He served in occupation Germany and France, then Libya, back in the States, and Thailand in the late ‘60s. Dad married LaVora Herschel White in the late 50's, and had two step-daughters, Rachel LaVora and Marsha Helen Livingston. I was born in 1960, Margaret “Margo” Helene Thomas. LaVora and Dad split up in 1964, and later I was able to live with Dad from 1970 until 1974. (the best years of my childhood). Finally, there's the miracle of the past 4 ½ years. In December 2009, Dad had agreed to move to Colorado and I had a trip planned to Wendell, North Carolina to pack Dad up and bring him here. A week before that, he checked himself into the hospital with kidney stones. The hospital moved him to a rehab facility, and told me they were preparing Dad to move him back home. My cousin Ken Thomas went to see Dad a couple of days later and said he couldn't get a fork to his mouth, could barely talk, and he was jerking all over. Even though I had a flight for the next week, my husband James told me I had to go out immediately, so I flew to NC the next day. When I saw Dad, he was in such bad shape, that I thought he had had a stroke. I called his doctors and they said to ‘911' him back to the hospital immediately. In less than two hours after tests, the doctors and staff rushed into his room then started racing Dad to surgery, while I signed papers on the way. His kidney was blocked and infected and he had developed sepsis. He was hours away from all of his organs shutting down. As soon as he was well enough, we moved Dad out to Colorado, and had a great 4 ½ years. We went to the top of Pike's Peak, Mt. Evans, and Long's Peak. We spent many hours just driving everywhere in the mountains, one of Dad's favorite activities. We also had many meals at great restaurants, Dad's favorite past time! My husband James always took great care of Dad, and they truly loved one another! There was nothing that James wouldn't do for Dad, including a lot of personal care toward the end. James often made Dad's dinner, and he always made a salad. I joke that James took better care of Dad than I did (well, maybe not a joke). We were so blessed to have Harry for the extra time, and we can't wait to see him again in Heaven where we'll be praising God, having a coffee with Jesus, and dancing forever.