Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

Terry Edelle (Craig) Thomas, age 78, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2020, at Palouse Hills Assisted Living in Fairfield, Wash., where she made her home for the past year.

She was born on May 30, 1942, to Raymond and Georgiabel (Parker) Craig in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She was raised in San Luis Obispo and graduated from San Luis Obispo High in 1960. After high school, Terry worked at Bank of America with her friend Linda (Finch) Tilley, and was known to be very smart and capable. She was highly regarded because of her ability to do every job in the bank.

In 1966, she met and married James Thomas and in 1973 the couple moved to Tekoa, Wash., to raise their three children. Terry was a devoted mother who was always at school events and supported her children in many after school activities including sports, 4H, FFA, Campfire, and more. She was a proud homemaker and skilled at many things including gardening, baking, arts & crafts, sewing and she was a self-taught piano player.

Terry worked as a secretary at Tekoa High School from 1982 until 2008 when she retired. She was an active member of the Tekoa Community Church where she served as both a clerk and a Sunday school teacher. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and a passionate and tireless volunteer and advocate as a member of the Tekoa Empire Theater project and the annual Tekoa Slippery Gulch celebration.

Terry loved raising her children, and spending time with her grandkids. She particularly enjoyed weekends away with family at their cabin in Rocky Point, Idaho. She enjoyed spending quality time in the company of her many close friends in Tekoa and also staying connected with friends from her childhood.

After living in Tekoa for more than 40 years, she moved to Spokane Valley, Wash., to be closer to her son Tom.

Anyone who knew Terry referred to her as a kind, gracious, loving, and gentle spirit with a heart of gold. Survivors include her three children, Tom (Holly) Thomas, Kelly Thomas and Tracy (Dan) Gallaway. She is survived by four grandchildren, Conrad & Jesse (Tom) and Aidan & Addison (Tracy), and a brother, Raymond P. Craig of Atascadero, Calif.

A memorial service and reception will be held at the Tekoa Community Church. Due to COVID-19, this will be postponed until May 2021. She will be laid to rest along side her parents at Oak Hill cemetery in Solvang, Calif.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the staff at Palouse Hills Assisted Living for the kind and compassionate care they provided to Terry during her time there.

Kramer Funeral Home of Tekoa is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at http://www.kramercares.com