Mary Lois Thomas

Mary Lois Thomas, age 76 of Life Care Center of the Copper Basin, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, February 28, 2015. She passed away unexpectedly at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN.
Ms. Thomas was born June 10, 1938 in Blue Ridge to the late Claude Neal and Nola Owenby Neal.
She was a 1957 graduate of West Fannin High School and attended business college in Atlanta after high school. She was the co-owner of The News Herald newspaper in Blue Ridge beginning in the late 1970s and continuing through 1990. She then moved to the metro Atlanta area where she began a career in motel management. She managed motels in Atlanta and Blue Ridge before retiring to her home in Blue Ridge.
Ms. Thomas had been a resident of Life Care Center of the Copper Basin for almost three years where she had developed special friendships with fellow residents and staff members alike.
She enjoyed helping others, a passion she carried throughout all her life. Her cooking was legendary among her family and friends, as was her love for her cats.
She was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Besides her parents, Ms. Thomas was preceded in death by a brother, Randall "Buddy" Neal; two sisters, Jean Ledford and Betty Whitener; and a special friend, Bob Brock.
She is survived four daughters, Phyllis (Jere) Norris of Acworth, Janice Rolan (Tony Green) of McCaysville, Amy (Glenn) Harbison of Copperhill, and Constance (Rex) Harris of Morganton; a sister, Carolyn Pickett of Blue Ridge; seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren and her "special baby," Miss Daisy kitty.
The family will meet with family and friends at Finch-Cochran Funeral Home in McCaysville at noon Wednesday, March 4, until the funeral service at 1 p.m.
Rev. Claude Mathis will officiate. Pallbearers will be Tony Green, Rex Harris, Evan Asbury, Jere Norris, and Glenn Harbison. Serving as an honorary escort will be staff and residents from Life Care of the Copper Basin.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to the Residents' Activities Fund, c/o Life Care Center of the Copper Basin, P.O. Box 518, Ducktown, TN, 37326, and put Attention: Helen on the envelope.

Arrangements entrusted to the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville, GA. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.