Mary Nell Thomas

Mary Nell Thomas, 92, of Fountain City, went home to be with the Lord on Monday morning, August 31, at Celebration Villa in Richmond.

Mary was born in Blount County, Tennessee on April 6, 1934, to Clarence Sylvester & Verna Sue Barten Hammontree. She was a 1952 graduate of Whitewater High School (Go Bears!). She was united in marriage to Philip Arden Thomas on November 21, 1952. They were blessed with nearly 64 years of marriage and 2 sons before his death on September 15, 2016.

Mary was a homemaker and a great Mom and Grandma. She collected cookbooks and prepared many of the recipes over the years, but a family favorite was her banana pudding. Mary loved music and singing and was a supporter of the music boosters when her kids were active in school. Mary formerly worked at Schneider’s Greenhouse and enjoyed gardening and growing flowers of her own. Generations of Northeastern school children remember Mary as their bus driver. She retired from driving after 28 years of service.

Mary will be missed by her son, Robert Thomas; son & daughter-in-law, Scott & Lyn Thomas; grandchildren, Jennifer (Gavin) Kelly, Shannon (Blake) Wagner, John (Sarah) Thomas, Jeremy (Shelby) Thomas, Lisa (Benji) Lewis and Brian (Maraigh) Mills; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Tillie Wilson; brother, Jim Hammontree & wife, Sue; several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Philip Thomas; daughter-in-law, Sandy Thomas; sisters, Bernice Snyder; brother, Tom Hammontree, brothers-in-law, James “Doug” Wilson and Donald Snyder.

Steve Mathews will celebrate Mary’s life at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4 at the Smith-McQuiston & Webster Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South, Fountain City. Interment will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery.

Family and friends may gather from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Willow Grove Cemetery, PO Box 197, Fountain City, IN 47341.