Shirley Jean Thomas
June 24, 1933 — October 13, 2022
Shirley Jean Kerns Thomas Known as "Tootsie" to her dad, 89 passed on October 13, 2022, in Las Cruces New Mexico. She was born on June 24, 1933, in Lincoln Nebraska to Carl Wesley and Lenora M Kerns. Shirley attended and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1951. She later graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Mathematics in 1958. She married James Lon Thomas...
Shirley Jean Kerns Thomas Known as "Tootsie" to her dad, 89 passed on October 13, 2022, in Las Cruces New Mexico. She was born on June 24, 1933, in Lincoln Nebraska to Carl Wesley and Lenora M Kerns. Shirley attended and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1951. She later graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Mathematics in 1958. She married James Lon Thomas on September 17, 1954, in Carlsbad, New Mexico and later had two children James L. Thomas Jr. and Laura Ruth Thomas. Shirley's first job was at Woolworths in Carlsbad, NM, she later went on to White Sands Missile Range as a Co-Op Mathematician, she worked at the Physical Science Laboratory, NMSU. She later went on to work with Billy Williams CPA as a CPA and later retired from Physical Science Laboratory, NMSU. She was a High School Cheerleader, she loved crocheting, sewing, watching her grandchildren in the sports they loved volleyball, football, and pole vault. She was an avid supporter of NMSU Volleyball. Shirley was a mother advisor for Hope Chapter #43 Order of Rainbow for Girls. She attended Eastern Star activities and loved traveling with her husband James. Shirley was a Sunday school teacher, an Honorary Fraternity PHI MU TAU (1957), MU BETA President (1958), Worthy Grand Matron Order of the Eastern Star, NM (1996-1997), Grand Trustee Order of the Eastern Star, NM, Grand Treasurer Order of the Eastern Star, NM. She is survived by her spouse James L. Thomas, son James L. Thom...
Shirley Jean Kerns Thomas Known as "Tootsie" to her dad, 89 passed on October 13, 2022, in Las Cruces New Mexico. She was born on June 24, 1933, in Lincoln Nebraska to Carl Wesley and Lenora M Kerns. Shirley attended and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1951. She later graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Mathematics in 1958. She married James Lon Thomas on September 17, 1954, in Carlsbad, New Mexico and later had two children James L. Thomas Jr. and Laura Ruth Thomas. Shirley's first job was at Woolworths in Carlsbad, NM, she later went on to White Sands Missile Range as a Co-Op Mathematician, she worked at the Physical Science Laboratory, NMSU. She later went on to work with Billy Williams CPA as a CPA and later retired from Physical Science Laboratory, NMSU. She was a High School Cheerleader, she loved crocheting, sewing, watching her grandchildren in the sports they loved volleyball, football, and pole vault. She was an avid supporter of NMSU Volleyball. Shirley was a mother advisor for Hope Chapter #43 Order of Rainbow for Girls. She attended Eastern Star activities and loved traveling with her husband James. Shirley was a Sunday school teacher, an Honorary Fraternity PHI MU TAU (1957), MU BETA President (1958), Worthy Grand Matron Order of the Eastern Star, NM (1996-1997), Grand Trustee Order of the Eastern Star, NM, Grand Treasurer Order of the Eastern Star, NM. She is survived by her spouse James L. Thomas, son James L. Thomas Jr. and spouse Gina, daughter Laura Ruth Thomas and spouse Rev. Jay Armstrong. Grandchildren Eric James Thomas, Rebecca Ruth Avergas and spouse Carlo, Jason Wesley Thomas and spouse Danielle, and Wesley Jay Armstrong and spouse Katie. Great Grandchildren Archer James Thomas, Boaz Armstrong Avergas, Grayson James Armstrong, Amelia Jane Thomas, and Titus Armstrong Avergas. She is preceded in death by her parents Carl Wesley and Lenora Kerns, brother Carl Wesley Kerns Jr "Buddy", father-in-law Roy Thomas, mother-in-law Velma Thomas and Nephew Carl Wayne Kerns. Interment will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Masonic Cemetery. Service Information
Saturday, October 29, 2022 10:00am,
St. Pauls United Methodist Church
225 W Griggs Ave
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007
Interment Location
Masonic Cemetery
760 S Compress Rd
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
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