The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Creta Mae “Mimi” Thomas was born Oct. 13, 1915, on a farm near Gladbrook, IA, to her parents Richard Carsten and Ella Willimenia (Sell) Sierck.

Creta passed away Jan. 22, and was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 and one half years Richard, her parents, brother Richard Russell Sierck, two infant sisters, Donna Arlene and Joyce Jessie Sireck, son-in-law Robert Baker, and her dear friend, Winston F. Wells.

Creta is survived by her daughters Sandra of Sachse, TX, and Frances and her husband Monty Gage of Jarrell, TX; grandchildren, Frank Baker and wife Cynthia, Sarah and husband Kyle Sawai, Amanda Gage, Reagan Gage, Elaine and husband Champ Gatlin, Johnny Gage, Carolyn and husband Scott Chaffin, and Linda Gage, and eight great-grandchildren. She leaves many friends, both past and present.

When Creta was fifteen years old, her mother passed away, leaving her to raise her five year old brother during the Great Depression. She kept house with no modern appliances and finished her education at Spirit Lake High School, Spirit Lake, Iowa graduating in 1935. On November 6, 1940, she married Richard Lewis Thomas of Spencer, Iowa. They barnstormed and flew a lot together. In 1941, they moved to Uvalde, TX, for Richard to teach Air Force Cadets and they fell in love with Texas.

After WWII, Richard was the executive pilot for Livingston Shipbuilding Co., in Orange, for 22 years. Creta was a homemaker, member of the Methodist Church, PTA, a charter member of the Orange Ladies Junior Chamber of Commerce, and a life member of the VFW. She enjoyed making porcelain dolls, listening to music from the 1930’s to the 1970’s, ballroom and square dancing. In 1982, Creta and Richard moved to Jarrell. Creta loved her family, it was because of her strong faith in God that she put her family first in her life.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Gabriels Funeral Chapel & Crematory in Georgetown.

A service to celebrate her life and faith will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Cornhill Cemetery in Jarrell.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials in Creta’s name to: Scott & White’s Cancer Center, Cornhill Cemetery Association, or Cornerstone UMC of Jarrell.

Personal words of comfort may be shared with the family online at: www.gabrielsfuneral.com.