Linda Thomas

LINDA MARIE THOMAS IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Linda Marie Gunter Thomas, 63, died March 2, 2008, of cancer at Life Care Center of Idaho Falls. She was born March 29, 1944, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Udell Albert Gunter and Helen Marie Herman Gunter. She graduated from Twin Falls High School and attended the University of Idaho. She married James Edward Thomas June 14, 1964 in Twin Falls. She was a mother and a homemaker. She loved gardening, knitting, spinning and weaving. She was a Master Gardener and a member of the Spinners and Weaver’s Guild in Idaho Falls. She is survived by her husband, Jim Thomas of Richfield; Daughter, Pegeen (John) Webster of Crystal, MN; Son, Jim (Chris) Thomas of Idaho Falls; Brother, Jim (Linda) Gunter of Boise; Seven grandchildren, Elysia, Alayna, Jonah, Grace Thomas; James, Bill and Steve Webster Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2008, at the Richfield Cemetery. ------------------------------------ Condolences received online: Pat Day Hartwell Linda always came into our Studio with a smile. She was soo quiet. In a class, she asked a thousand questions, often writing down the answers for later reference. But what I will remember her for is when you sat next to her and talked she always had a twinkle in her beautiful light blue eyes. When Linda didn’t feel good, she would come in and sit. She needed to talk and find out ideas of how to treat her ailments without going to the doctor. She didn’t feel sorry for herself, she just needed all of her energy to keep going and she might not have enough energy to be spinning that week. Linda was very modest. Rarely did we see her finished work. She did beautiful work. She produced lovely works of art in delicate and harmonious colors. She enjoyed many types of weaving as well as knitting and spinning. We knew she worked so hard, carrying her produce from West to East in Idaho. When she was gardening, she was selling her produce in many different farmer’s markets. When she could get fruit in Sunnyslope and Emmett, she brought it to Twin Falls, Hailey and Eastern Idaho. She brought us lovely peaches and pears. Jack and I so enjoyed the pears, they were the best. Sometime, she had funny stories to tell us about events along the way. She usually had eggs that she wouldn’t let us pay for because she had so many. Come on, come on, come out to my car she would say. When it was slow at a farmer’s market, she would spin on her spinning wheel. Her family was so important to her. She always wanted to be helping her children and grand children. She loved being needed and being asked to babysit while different things were happening in her children’s families. She brought her grandchildren to our different Fiber Fairs, Spin-Ins and classes. She was teaching them to love fiberarts as she did. She enjoyed taking our Fiber Fair brochures to every Guild and yarn or fabric store across the South of Idaho. From Caldwell to Idaho Falls, Linda took the signs and class lists so everyone would know about our events. At the Guilds, she gathered feedback and came back with suggestions of future teachers. We couldn’t get her to join our Fiber Fair committee or Board formally, but she did this service for more than a decade just the same. She took a lot of classes with the Boise Guild and the Nampa/Caldwell Guild and was involved with other spinners and weavers in the Magic Valley. She became friends with the best fiberartists in Western Idaho.We miss Linda. Because she didn't live in th is valley and her attendance was always sporadic, we had just begun saying, “Where is Linda? Has anyone heard from her? Why haven’t we seen her?” when her daughter Peg called. Linda hadn’t known she had something fatal. When I saw her, she said she was ready to go. That she was just waiting. She was thrilled with the shawl. It brought out those blue eyes. Pat Day Hartwell Leroy & Jackie Johnson leroyej@ida.net Dear Jim & family, We were sorry to read in the paper about Linda's passing. We have some fond memories of her from years ago when we were all in Richfield. She was a kind and gentle person. Our thoughts are with you.