At 1:40 am today (Wednesday  1st Aug 2007) Dad

whom many affectionately referred to as “The Major,”

 Ian, or “big brother” went to be with the One Whom he

loved, served and about Whom he couldn’t stop talking.

 That was true until the end!

     At 2 am on Monday morning we decided to call the

 Paramedics to come and check on Dad who was having

 a difficult time breathing and clearly in distress. They quickly

 prepared him to be whisked down to the Estes Park Hospital

 and after an assessment by the physician on duty transported

 by helicopter into the night sky and on to a major Hospital in

Loveland. (Standing outside, as Mom, Bonnie, and I watched

him lifted up, I privately thought he was going to satisfy his

ambition and go by air after all!)

 

    By the time Mom and I arrived at the hospital they had him in the ICU unit and attached to every imaginable device known to the medical profession. It was very obvious that he was in a serious condition and that there was limited anticipation he would overcome it. Pneumonia and a failing heart were the first priorities for the physicians to address. The next day although still very sick he had bounced back to the astonishment of everybody (including himself!). Having regained his voice, enthusiasm, and desire for another inning, the doctors and nurses were ‘briefed’ by him on the joy of trusting in the Lord Jesus for life and death! How wonderful that Andy and his family had arrived that morning by car from Canada and Luke by plane from Chicago. All enjoyed some minutes of joy and laughter and sealed with a word of spiritual encouragement.

     Shortly after midnight this morning we were encouraged to return to the hospital as he had deteriorated. Mother, Andy, Luke, Bonnie and I sang him into heaven! What a mingling of sadness in celebration.

 

  Our preliminary thought is to have a Memorial Service at Capernwray in September to include those from Europe who would love to gather in honor of Dad and to give thanks to the Lord. A further Memorial Service may well be held in New Zealand to include those from that part of the world. We will get details to you as they are confirmed. (dates will be posted on this site)

    

 

Thank you for your love and prayers.

    

Rejoicing in the wonder of the goodness of the Lord.

With love on behalf of Mom and the rest of the family.

 

In Christ, with whom Dad is now truly present.

 

Chris  Thomas

 

 

 

 

It has been an incredible time as an extended family with everyone here apart from Kyle Mark's son who is in Peru and just couldn't make it. We had a very moving gathering on Saturday with all the family - including a viewing of the body - and lots of organizing of things. Mum has been amazing - lots of tears and laughter. Dad/Grandpa has been at the centre of most gatherings, private conversations, myriads of visitors etc.

 

We had a family service on Sunday - and read through lots of e-mails from around the world. Mon morning we had the burial service at the graveside which was just family and was very moving - looking up to the mountains where we noticed a distinct cross in the rock formation - Dad is still seeing an empty cross and so a risen saviour! Mon afternoon was the funeral service with about 400 people packed into the local church. Mostly local people but people also came in from afar such as Charles & Hilary Price, Jill Briscoe, Charflie McCall, Hans-Peter Royer, Charlie & Marlene Fordham etc. It was an incredibly moving service lasting two and a half hours in good Major Thomas tradition!! Luke played his bagpipes to begin the proceedings and it was as moving as a haka! We then had an evening gathering for family, Torchbearer staff and a few others when Mum spoke of her personal experiences with Dad from the beginning - it was incredible as you can imagine.

 

We are now gradually dispersing again to the four corners of the globe  with the biggest sense is one of celebration - and the torch still burns bright and clear.

 

With our love...

 

Peter, Elizabeth, Callum and Alex