Lavada Thomas, 99, of Kilgore passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 21st. A graveside service will be held 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Danville Cemetery in Kilgore.

Born Lavada Louise White on September 6, 1926, she was the second child born to Pearl (Meeler) White and Harve White of Upshur County, Texas.

As a young child, Lavada attended the small school in Pritchett until fire destroyed it, forcing her and her classmates to be bused to Gladewater schools. She enjoyed recounting how the teachers in the new district referred to her and her classmates as “those Pritchett children.”

A human treasure trove of history, Lavada lived in the Great Depression in a very small house that had neither electricity nor indoor plumbing. When her mother died shortly before Lavada’s tenth birthday, the young girl was forced into the role of cook and caretaker for her father and siblings. Even in her final years, she occasionally recalled sadly, “I know my brothers went hungry a lot.”

After graduating from Gladewater High in 1943, Lavada married Doyle Vanoy Thomas in 1944. This union lasted 66 years until Doyle’s death. After marrying, the two settled in Kilgore and began their family.

Lavada was immensely proud of her three children: Roger Thomas (wife Susan, deceased) of Longview; Sue Martin (Ruben) of Longview; and Jill Singletary (Lee) of The Colony. Other sources of joy were her four grandchildren; Bridget Edwards (Curt); Jay Thomas (Beckie); Courtney Stovall; and Robin Martin; as well as seven great grandchildren.

Doyle’s career was in banking, and Lavada supplemented the family income through various positions over the years, including Rader Funeral Home, Laird Memorial Hospital, Kilgore College and the East Texas Treatment Center.

Gardening was a way of life for Lavada. She grew up in a family of sweet potato farmers and had a vast knowledge and enjoyment of many varieties of plants – especially beautiful flowers. Lavada was a dedicated member of the Civic Garden Club and through age 98, was a weekly volunteer each Tuesday at the White Elephant thrift store in downtown Kilgore, an organization that raises money for the Kilgore Improvement and Beautification Association. In 2016, she was named First Lady of Kilgore for her dedication to KIBA and other civic projects.

Lavada loved and trusted the Lord, and she was not shy about sharing her Christian faith with others in hope that she would see them in heaven someday. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Kilgore where she remained active until her health declined significantly at age 98. During much of her tenure at FBC, she served as a Sunday School teacher and, in recent years, was proud to be the oldest living member of the church.

Lavada was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, three siblings, and her daughter-in-law.

The family would like to express appreciation to the nurses and aides of Kindful Health Hospice who served Lavada during her final months; the staff of Arabella of Kilgore, and the many friends who visited her so faithfully. A special thank you goes to Robyn Irving for the love, support and care she has shown Lavada for a number of years.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Longview PAWS benefiting Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center (LACAC). The physical address to mail donations is Longview PAWS, PO Box 808, Longview, TX 75606.