James D. Thomas, long time resident of Fallon, passed away peacefully October 29, 2014. He was born in Texas in 1917 and raised through the Great Depression. Jim liked to tell a story of helping catch a chicken thief on his family’s farm. At that time chicken stealing was a felony crime. His biggest adventure in life was his military service to our country. He joined the Navy and after twenty years of service, retired as Chief Petty Officer. He served on the Tuscaloosa and Salem Cruisers. Jim told stories about the ships having to dodge torpedoes from German U-boats as they fought to protect convoys they were assigned to. He sailed all over the world, but his Navy experience in the North Atlantic earned him a medal for “service prior to Pearl Harbor”. He used to say, “we were fighting a war with the German’s before there was a declared war”. Jim moved to Fallon in the sixties after retiring from the Navy and from working as a Barber. He then worked Civil Service at Naval Air Station Fallon in both the Fire and Transportation Departments. He fully retired in 1977, built a second home on the Snake River in Homedale, Idaho and spent much of his time pursuing his love of hunting. He had many bird dogs, but it was during this time that a family friend, Dan O. Homer, found and gave Jim his best bird dog he ever had. Lady and Jim would step out for a few hours nearly every day during hunting season, and almost never failed to bring home a pheasant or chukar in his game bad. He used to boast that he lived on wild game and the good fruit that came from farms that surrounded him. Another hobby Jim started in his military days while visiting various ports, was dancing. He loved Big Band music and through Senior Centers in the Homedale area, Fallon and Reno he continued dancing well into his 90’s. Jim leaves behind his son, Keith Thomas; daughter, Lynn Mayes; son, Terry Thomas; son and daughter-in-law, Toby and Connie Thomas; granddaughters, Brie Anna Mayes; Amber Armstrong and his long time companion Frances Lenzora. He will be buried with full Military Honors at a private family service. Arrangements are under the direction of The Gardens Funeral Home 2949 Austin Highway Fallon, NV. 89406 775 423-8928
