August 13

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Bernarde William Thomas 1927-1999

Bernarde was my dad's brother. He was seven years older than my dad.

Photo: Bernarde, Richard, Bill and Christie Thomas

Bernarde married Eileen Rice, and they had 3 sons: Mick, Greg, and Kim.

Photo: Richard and Bernarde Thomas

A childhood friend of Bernarde's, Bud Davis, who became a college professor and author, wrote a touching tribute to Bernarde which was published in his weekly newspaper column after Bernarde's death:

I'll post the text below.

Here is a picture taken at Bernarde's 17th birthday party. Bud Davis, as well as some other men mentioned in the article, are in the photograph.

Photo L-R: Richard, Bernarde, Robert Goodrich, Christie Thomas, John Robertson, Bill Thomas, Russell Kime, Bud Davis, Bill Galbreath

TEXT OF ARTICLE:

So long, old friend

    The boom of Bernarde Thomas' big crane jutted against the skyline out in a field west of Keeler. Just the day before when mail lady Tina Mattimore traveled the country roads in that area, she had seen her uncle's big drag line working, turning.

Now when she approaced, the crane was strangely still. And in front of it an ambulance and some men. She stopped and ran over. "What's the matter," she called.

One of the medics said, "What do you want?"

Tina, now thoroughly alarmed, said, "That's my Uncle you have in there!" She could see the wrappers of medical packs on the ground where they had been working.

The EMT softened and said quietly, "Mr. Thomas has apparently had a heart attack and we're on our way to the hospital with him."

So Tina ran back to her car and called Bernarde's wife, Eileen, on her cell phone. But when they got Bernarde into the Emergency Room at Community Hospital, it was too late -- he had departed this life.

The Thomas family and my family had known each other for years. When we were kids they lived at the end of Linden Street past Galbreaths' house. Bernarde was part of our neighborhood bunch of kids. Many games of croquet we played in their front yard. Bernarde's mom, Christie, was a feisty lady. I can remember one day Bill Galbreath teased her until she chased him right out of their yard, brandishing her croquet mallet.

I can also remember the time we ordered fireworks from the Spencer Company in Ohio. Bernarde, Bill, Jim Tollar, Russell Kime and I ordered what goodies we could afford to celebrate July 4th in a loud fashion. Every day we rode our bicycles down to the depot until the package came in by express.

Later we were all back from W.W.II and Bernarde had not been old enough for that fracas. But he did go into the army then. We all went down to the Pere Marquette depot when he left for Basic Training to see him off. And there was a hole in our lives until he got back.

Bernarde had embarked on his career as a truck driver and crane operator with Laverne Rice. Then he bought his own crane and went into business for himself. He also married Eileen Rice and together they built a wonderful life and a new home in Shady Acres Subdivision on Lake of the Woods outside of Decatur. In fact, he was instrumental in developing that whole area.

The rest of his life he spent working with his crane, named "Betsy." And he was proud of his accomplishments. Whenever he traveled through Southwestern Michigan, he could say, "I dug that hole... I worked there... or I dredged that ditch." He even put in three irrigation ponds for Marion's dad, Louis Kling. Someone once said that he made this part of the state one of the "holiest" places in the country.

Bernarde and Eileen reared three sons: Michael, Gregory, and Kim. They are all married and have produced eight grand-children and five great-grandchildren. The boys went into business with their dad and have all been successful. We have met them and believe they all turned out so well because Bernarde and Eileen "raised them by hand."

All those years Bernarde and Eileen lived in their home on Lake of the Woods. It is a beautiful spot and Bernarde loved the wildlife and nature that surrounds them. He also was an avid bowler all of his adult life, with a respectable average. And he played golf every week. Early morning games were the best, and he loved to get his boys out there. He said after they had been out late, they were easier to beat.

This past spring, their kids surprised them with a cruise for their 50th wedding anniversary. Bernarde and Eileen went on the trip with some of their friends; and during that time Bernarde achieved what is every golfer's dream -- a hole in one! At the Plantation Golf Course in Venice, FL, they were playing with friends Gordy and Opal. They were on the par three 124 yard 15th hole. It is an island hole surrounded by water.

Using a six iron, Bernarde teed up, set his feet, and swung. The ball landed a few feet from the hole, kept on rolling, and right in the cup! And "Salty," as he was nicknamed by Gordy, proved that he could still swing a club.

Bernarde departed this life just as he wished -- digging a huge hole with his crane "Betsy." That day they tried to revive him, but he had gone into the Shadowed Part of The Great Circle of Life.

At his funeral services we listened to the comforting words of Rev. Brian Hall and a beautiful eulogy delivered by James Abshagen -- to whom I am indebted for some of my information.

Afterwards we met for a delicious luncheon prepared by the ladies of the VFW Celery City Post No. 6248, Decatur. There we visited with Eileen, the family, and friends. Bernarde's brother, Richard, told me more neat family stories. He lives in Watervliet with his wife Wathada, who is a former student of mine.

There is no denying a huge empty spot in our lives with the loss of Bernarde. He lived his life well, devoting much of it to his wife and family. The rest he spent making our part of the state a better, more productive place. He was always a good citizen of his community, and a good friend. What better recommendation could anyone have at the close of a life.