Margaret A. Thomas, 78, of Clermont, FL, formally of Hope, MI passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Cornerstone Hospice on August 9, 2024.
Marge was born in Saginaw, MI, on December 12, 1945, to the late John R. and Edith (Butts) Kerrigan. She married David Thomas on September 12, 1967, and they celebrated 37 years before parting ways. Together, they had two daughters, Jennele Ault and Jonna Thomas-Bloomfield.
She was a devoted mother who always stood by her family. She showered her children and grandchildren with love, putting their happiness above all else. She was actively engaged in all aspects of their lives, and she held a deep understanding of their aspirations, and through her selfless gestures, turned their dreams into reality. Her life can be described as "Moms are patient gardeners who plant the seeds of love in their children and grandchildren, and then watch them bloom."
Marge was a 1964 graduate of Midland High School. She was the CFO and a member of the board of directors for the family business, Thomas Trading Post. Later, she worked as an Employee Development Trainer at The Dow Chemical Company, retiring after 10 years of dedicated service.
Marge was known as the Martha Stewart of her time because she was amazing at baking, house design, and landscaping, all before Pinterest was a thing. She made meals and desserts that not only tasted great but also looked beautiful, impressing all her guests. Marge often joked that she "cooked enough for an army," but no one ever left her house hungry or without some leftovers to take home.
Her home showcased her incredible taste and eye for detail. Every room was thoughtfully decorated, turning ordinary spaces into cozy and welcoming retreats. Her landscaping and gardening skills were equally impressive. Her yard was like a green paradise, full of beautiful plants and flowers arranged perfectly to look like a stunning picture. She loved visiting Disney to see the flowers and holiday designs, getting excited about each display's unique look, colors, and types of flowers used.
Marge also loved shopping, especially for clothes, and we were all lucky to have her as our personal shopper. She had a great sense of style, and her closets were like treasure troves of carefully picked outfits that showed off her unique taste and personality. She knew all about different fashion brands, could spot great deals from miles away, and was always ahead of the fashion trends.
She is survived by her daughters, Jennele (Ron) Ault and Jonna Thomas-Bloomfield, her cherished grandchildren, Kortnea Bloomfield, Kenady and Karsyn Sasse, and two great-grandchildren, Odyn Slocum and Sedar Gradeless. She is also survived by her siblings, Jo Ellen (Butch) Griese of Midland and Patricia Buys of Centennial, CO, as well as her brother-in-law, Dale Varner of Haines City, Fl. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, extended family, and many dear friends.
She is predeceased by her best friend and the love of her life, Kenneth Riley; sister Barbara Varner and brother-in-law Marty Buys.
The celebration of life service will be scheduled for a future date.
The family kindly requests that donations be made in Marge's memory to South Lake Animal League, Inc. in Clermont, Fl and/or the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). We extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team at Alto Senior Living and Cornerstone Hospice for their exceptional care and kindness.