Carolina Thomas, 101 of Otis, passed away on Oct 8, 2014 at Sterling Living Center. She was born in Otis To Fred and Wypka Clausen. Carolina worked as a young child helping with her mother with harvest so she could buy her first doll. Carolina was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. She was the oldest member of the Church. She was active in 4-H when she was a young lady.
She married Dallas Thomas on November 14,1934. They had two daughters, Shirley Wagner and Betty Odell. Carolina loved her garden; she would be out early in the mornings when it was cool. Carolina cooked at the school for years, while the girls were in school. She also loved doing ceramics; she did so many that every household was filled with ceramics from mother. Carolina also loved making afghans, she made them for every grandchild and great-grandchild. We don't know just how many she made, but it was a lot. Carolina always had a jigsaw puzzle on the table so whoever came over could help her work on it. Dallas and Carolina traveled to Nebraska to see his family. They also went on several trips with Perk and Betty, enjoying Hawaii, Acapulco, and London. One of the memorable family traditions was Christmas Eve at Grandma's House. All of the grandchildren and some great-grandchildren were introduced to Santa Claus for the first time. That was pretty exciting and then after Santa left, Grandma had homemade pea soup with dumplings and chili ready for the family meal. The jury is still out on which was better...homemade pea soup or pickled peaches. Carolina's first motorcycle ride was when she was 96 years old on the back of grandson Cortney's motorcycle. She didn't even care about her hair.

101 years is a quite an achievement. Can you imagine the changes she has experienced? Our family wants all to know what a gracious, caring, loving person she was. Even in the nursing home, she never complained. She was always a gentle person and loving everyone.
She was reunited in Heaven with her parents, her husband Dallas, her 3 brothers, William, Earl, and Henry, and her granddaughter, Cynthia Wagner.
Surviving Carolina are her children Shirley Wagner and husband Ernie, and Betty Odell and her husband Perk. Carolina is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Cortney Wagner of Otis, Thomas Odell and wife Latisha of Pearland, TX,Tab Odell and wife Anita of Bennett CO, and Tammy Webster and husband Dan of Wray, Colorado. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren & numerous friends.

A funeral service was held Saturday, October 11, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis. Interment followed at the Otis Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church.