Minnie L. Thomas, age 82, of Sebring, FL and formerly of Erie, died Sunday, March 8, 2009, at her residence after an extended illness. She was born on November 10, 1926 in Warren, OH, the daughter of the late, Harry and Jessie Corwin Check.

She was employed at Brown Derby with her daughters. Minnie enjoyed bingo, gardening, crosswords, and horse racing.

She is survived by her husband, Paul H. Thomas, her children: Linda Evans (Rick) of Erie, Sharon J. Soboleski (John), of McKean, Michel G. Godfrey (Wayne) of Erie, two sisters, Lucille Stephens and Genny Haight, her nine grandchildren: Chris and Cale Schwartz, Amber Soboleski Griffith, Jill Soboleski Benoit, Erik Evans, Shaen Evans, Meaghan Soboleski Elliott, Danielle Godfrey Jones, and Nick Godfrey, and eleven great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two stepchildren, Cheryl Testi (Rich) of Girard and Paul E. Thomas, twelve step-grandchildren, and one step great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.

Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service there at 11:00 a.m. Entombment Erie County Memorial Gardens.

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