Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Rena Thomas
Jul 25th, 1940 - Aug 16th, 2021Rena M. Thomas, age 81, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Monday morning, August 16, 2021, at her home.
She was born July 25, 1940, in Clay County, the daughter of Earl A. and Geneva Dell (Wease) Lents. In 1962, she married Don L. Thomas during a wedding ceremony in Shawneetown.
Rena was a member of the Clay City High School Class of 1958. She was a founding employee of WNOI Radio, serving as News Director, and operated Able Cleaning Service. She will be most recently remembered for her work as resident columnist at the Hometown Journal and Clay County Republican Newspapers where she took readers on a journey of captivating historical and genealogical subjects by way of her weekly feature titled “Piecing Together The Past.” Rena was a member of Bethlehem Christian Church, The Clay County Genealogical Society, and the Sew Nifty Quilting Guild.
Rena is survived by her husband: Don Thomas of Flora; 2 sons: Tony (Sherri) Thomas of Robinson and Troy (Sandy) Thomas of Flora; 2 grandsons: Zach (Jessica) Thomas and Brenden (Summer) Thomas; 1 great-grandson: Sean Weatherspoon; 1 great-granddaughter: Adalynn Thomas; 5 sisters: Karen (Phillip) Marlow, Carol (Ron) Raley, Donna Given, Cheryl Hampton, and Terry Lentz; 1 brother: Rick (Tina) Lents; and a brother-in-law: Bob Monical.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Earl & Geneva Lents; her stepfather: John Lents; 1 brother: Dale E. Lents; and 1 sister: Noma Monical.
A funeral ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, August 20, 2021, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with Mark Luzadder officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers or any gifts, the family prefers that memorial donations please be given to either Bethlehem Christian Church, Clay County Cancer Crusaders, or Clay County Hospice, and any of these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence, visit: www.frankandbright.com
At the request of the family, please plan on wearing a face mask if attending the visitation or funeral ceremony. Disposable masks will be available at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding.