Marjorie Ann Thomas, 88, of Port Huron, formerly of Marysville, passed away peacefully in the company of family on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.
Marjorie was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on May 14, 1928 to Ray and Marjorie Williams and grew up in St. Clair Shores. She married the love of her life, Harold Leslie Thomas, on November 1, 1947 and together they raised six children in Fair Haven, Michigan. Later in life, Marjorie and her husband moved to Algonac and then to a residence on the St. Clair River in Marysville.
Advancing quality public education was Marjorie’s passion and life’s work.
In consecutive terms spanning nearly 40 years, Marjorie was elected by voters to serve on the Algonac Community Schools Board. She served numerous terms as Board President, and the diplomas of her children and many other students who graduated from Algonac High School from the late 1960s to 2003 bear her signature.
In consecutive terms totaling more than a quarter century, Marjorie was elected by the Algonac Community Schools School Board to serve on the St. Clair County Intermediate School Board (now known as the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency). She served numerous terms as ISD Board President, including her last term in 2003. Marjorie was especially proud of her advocacy and instrumental role in advancing the accessibility and quality of vocational education for public school students throughout St. Clair County.
For nearly four decades, Marjorie served in numerous leadership capacities with the Michigan Association of School Boards and the National Association of School Boards. A sought-after speaker, she traveled the country giving presentations on education, legislation and public policy. She was a highly visible force in Lansing and Washington, D.C. advocating for educators, schoolchildren, and families in St. Clair County and statewide.
Active in politics throughout her life, Marjorie ran for Michigan House of Representatives (76th District) in 1982 and County Commissioner in 2002.
For many years, Marjorie served on the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). She was a delegate to the Regional Clearinghouse Review team, served on the Community and Economic Development Advisory Council, chaired the Education Bloc and chaired the Education Advisory Council. She authored or contributed to numerous reports on Southeastern Michigan regional planning issues, including education, transportation, intergovernmental cooperation, and economic development. In 2000, Marjorie was elected SEMCOG Chair, and after her term was up, she continued her involvement with the organization through early 2009.
Her extraordinarily active and vibrant life included serving on the boards of numerous community organizations, including the St. Clair County Visiting Nurses Association, St. Clair County Mental Health Board, and the Marysville Police and Fire Retirement and Pension Board.
As Chairman of the Ira Township Sesquicentennial Committee, Marjorie led a volunteer committee of Ira Township, Algonac, and New Baltimore residents appointed by the Ira Township Board of Trustees in 1986. In 1990, Marjorie, editor Susanna Mason Defever, and the Sesquicentennial Committee authored The Heritage of Ira, the definitive history of Ira Township.
Marjorie and her husband shared a passion for travel and adventure. She was also an accomplished artist, craftsperson, and seamstress. Through 2008, her paintings were regularly exhibited at local arts events and gallery shows. She was a Mary Kay consultant for many years. She enjoyed dominoes, crochet, reading biographies and history books, collecting artwork, and spending time with family and friends. She loved the scent of lilacs and notoriously favored purple above all other colors. The well-known landmark used to direct visitors to her former home on Broadbridge Road in Fair Haven was a large purple mailbox.
Marjorie is survived by her children, Pamela (Gary) Oldham of Round Rock, Texas, Patricia Thomas of Fort Gratiot, Leslie Allen Thomas of St. Clair Shores, Harold C. Thomas of Houston, Texas, Susan (Ron) Fleming of Clinton Township and Michael (Courtney) Thomas of Seabrook, Texas; grandchildren, Lindsay (Taha) Mukaddam, Lauren (Tom) Smith, and Thomas Hally; a great grandson, Trent Smith; a sister, Ora Krobock; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews and countless close friends.
Marjorie’s husband Harold preceded her in death in 2008 after 61 years of marriage. Upon her passing, he undoubtedly welcomed her with a warm and loving embrace. An infant son, Jeffrey Leigh; parents, Marjorie and Ray; brothers, Charles Hovis and Edward Williams; and sisters, Wilma Richie and Dorothy LaPorte also predeceased her.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, September 17, 2016 in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home with visitation beginning at 10 a.m.
Burial will be in Cadillac Memorial Gardens East, Clinton Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com.
A very special thank you to the staff of Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home and Medilodge of Yale for the special care that they gave to Marjorie.
