Mark H. Thomas

November 12, 1938 - July 17, 2024 - Long time Goble, Oregon resident, who in 2006 had relocated to Mill City, Oregon, passed away on July 17, at the age of 85.

Born on November 12, 1938 in Goble Oregon, Mark began his working career at the age of ten, when he became employed in leading a pair of work horses in his family's logging operation. In 1957, a year after having graduated from Rainier High School (Rainier, Oregon), he became employed with Longview Fibre, working at their paper mill in Longview, Washington up until his retirement in December 1999. It was while employed here in the early 1980s that he took up the hobby of golf with his coworkers. In addition to golf, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, metal detecting, and for several years was involved in youth baseball; following eight years of coaching Rainier Little League teams (Goble in particular), in 1976 he became president of the Rainier-Clatskanie Babe Ruth league, which he played a lead role in founding.

In July 1959, he married the love of his life, Lela F. Jensen of Columbia City. Over the years they enjoyed many outings, including evening "deer runs" and time well spent with their pets, all of which have preceded them in death.

He is survived by his wife at home, Lela Thomas; two sons, Robert M. Thomas of Clatskanie, Oregon, Terry L. Thomas (Sandra) of Gates, Oregon; a grandson, Trey J. Thomas of Corvallis, Oregon; two siblings, Al D. Thomas of Portland, Oregon, Wanda A. Obermeier of Goble, Oregon, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Verden V. Thomas and Ora G. Link; brothers Verden W. Thomas, Ray V. Thomas, Lloyd L. Thomas, Delbert L. Thomas, and sister, Lavida Thomas. The family will be having a "celebration of life," via social media.