Polley Funeral Home serving the families of the greater Excelsior Springs, Richmond and Lawson, Missouri area

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Erma Thomas

Erma Lucille (Jesse) Thomas, 86, Richmond, Mo., passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the North Kansas City Hospital in North Kansas City, Mo.

Mrs. Thomas was born January 30, 1925, in Excelsior Springs, Mo., the daughter of Charles "Austin" and Emma (Denney) Jesse. She married Lawrence W. Thomas on May 7, 1973, in Miami, Okla. He preceded her in death on July 4,1998. Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker. She was a member of the Full Gospel Assembly Church in Topeka, Kans., where she loved to sing and play the piano. Erma also belonged to the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Richmond, Mo.

In addition to her husband, Lawrence, she was preceded in death by one step-son, Robert Thomas in 1975.

Survivors include four sons, James L. Cates of Lawson, Mo., Jeffrey L. Cates of Richmond, Mo., Joe T. Cates of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and David Wayne Cates of Lisle, Ill.; two daughters, Brenda Crawford of Richmond, Mo., and Ann Marie Crumley of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; four step-children, Laurel Ruth Terry of Topeka, Kans., William L. Thomas of North Carolina, Linda M. Thomas of Topeka, Kans., and Lisa L. Thomas of Topeka, Kans.; one sister, Mary Ruth Summers of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 16, 2012 at the Polley Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery south of Tecumseh, Kans. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.