Jolene (Conley) Thomas

Jolene Conley Thomas, 81 of 52 Lillian's Lane Bakersville went home to be with her Lord Jesus on October 6, 2020. She died peacefully at home.

Born June 6, 1939 in Mitchell County she was the daughter of the late J Leater and Lillian Webb Conley. She was a graduate of Bowman High School.

She is survived by daughters, Jan Hamilton of Spruce Pine and Mandy Boone of Bakersville; sons, Beau Thomas of Spruce Pine and Jim Thomas of Toledo Ohio;  her grandchildren, Cy Thomas and Jaime Dalburg, and great grandchildren, Dylan and Brooklyn Dahlburg.

She was so proud of Jaime, who grew up to be a fine young woman in the absence of her own mother and who is now a wonderful mother herself. Her eyes always lit up when Cy entered the room. She is also survived by sisters, Margaret Louise Black of Pensacola Florida and Fran McFerren of Newton NC;  brothers, Ted Conley of Bakersville and John Conley of Penrose NC, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Jim Thomas and daughter Suzanne Smith.

Mama retired after 43 years from Spruce Pine Community Hospital, working first as a CNA and then as a ward secretary. Everyone who worked with her spoke of her work ethic and her helpfulness. She was a wonderful mother and caregiver to many, including the many patients she cared for in the hospital. She was 18 when her first child was born and, but for God, the doctors and mama her child would not be walking today. She nursed Jaime back to health after the automobile accident that took Jaime's mother's life.

She cared for her parents and helped with daddy's parents. She was the sole caregiver for daddy during his sickness, having Hospice come in only in the last week of his life. She was a skilled seamstress, making us girls clothes for school as well as her own clothes. She was a wonderful cook and baker and cooked for us as well as visiting business men daddy would bring home from work. She had many preachers at her table over the years and she always cooked a full meal when we had church decorations because she said she had more people to feed than the others. Mama bowed her head in prayer at every meal whether anyone else did or not.  She loved to read until macular degeneration made it difficult. But her most favorite thing was to be visited by her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at Mine Creek Baptist Church on Friday Oct 9th, 2020 at 7:00PM. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm prior to the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice And Palliative Care of The Blue Ridge, 236 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine, NC 28777 who has taken such wonderful care of mama. Also our sister Mandy has been a life line and a Godsend through this sad time.

Henline - Hughes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Because of Covid -19 we ask that you wear a mask and social distance as much as possible during the visitation and the service.

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