Anne C Thomas
I am very tardy in expressing my love and friendship. She and Jim were very close to my parent’s Grover and Bettie Thomas, and I grew up knowing them well. My parents loved to entertain, and Jim and Ellen were often guests, first on Ranch Drive, and later on Fairway Lane. She and Feriba were often In Mom’s golfing group. The Fayetteville Country Club was really a great place for children in the 50’s and 60’s, for everyone knew whose child you were, and we were given a lot of freedoms to just be kids! During that time, the bar was one of the only air conditioned places, and although kids were technically not allowed, we would peek in and see if there was someone who might let us in for a bit. Ellen was always one that would motion for me to come sit with her, and she happily ordered me a Shirley Temple! She would also give me a hand full of change to play on the one and only slot machine!!Of course I absolutely adored her! How could you not??? My Daddy died in 1997, at Henry Shreve’s funeral, which is a totally amazing story, and Mom followed him greatfully in 2007. I was an only child and had always been around older people. With no family but my wonderful daughter, I loved to visit with the people who had known and loved my parents, and Ellen was at the top of the list.We had many chats sitting in her bedroom, enjoying good conversation and a glass of wine. Sara and Jim, thank you for sharing your very special Mother with all of us! She was a light in the darkness. Her love of life was contagious to everyone she knew, and what a blessing it was to call her friend!
