Doris Thomas

Doris Joan Thomas, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:03 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2018 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.  The family is grateful to the staff of West Woods for their compassionate and skillful care.

She was born on October 7, 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Frank and Maude (Regenos) Huffman.  She was graduated from Brandywine High School, and was employed in the office of Michiana Insurance Agency for thirty years before her retirement.  She lived in Niles all of her life.

Doris attended Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church in Niles.  As a young mother, she volunteered in activities in which her children participated at school and scouting.  She enjoyed handcrafts including sewing and quilting, and painting, usually using oils.

On August 12, 1950 in Niles she married Clifford E. Thomas with whom she celebrated the sixty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on October 6, 2016.  They were sadly preceded in death by two grandchildren, Benjamin Thomas in 1994 and Jessica Thomas in 1987.  Doris was also preceded in death by her siblings, Shirley Daly, G. Richard Lucas, and Alice Craw.

Surviving family includes a daughter and two sons, Darlene (& Kenneth) Patten of Grand Rapids, Gary (& Becky) Thomas of Niles, and Brad (& Donna) Thomas of Warwick, Rhode Island; grandchildren, Maria Patten-Meyer, Michael (& Delaney) Patten, Nicholas (& Amanda Malueg) Patten, Joel (& Stacey) Thomas, Sara (& Dewayne) Johnson, Brad Thomas, Jr., Lynn (& Steven Burns) McDole, and Kristen (& Michael Murray) McDole; great-grandchildren Anika, Carter, Joanna, Margot, Braxton, Kristoff, Rebecca, Benjamin, Thomas, Daniel, Steven, Sean, and Elijah; and many nieces and nephews.