Shelby Dean Thomas
July 29, 1944 – April 6, 2024
BANGOR - Shelby Dean Thomas, 79, passed away peacefully at home with his family on Saturday, April 6, 2024, after battling cancer. He was born to Vestal Leota (Vanderslice) Thomas and James Franklin Thomas on July 29, 1944, in Morrilton, Arkansas. He moved from Arkansas to Farmersville, California, with his family when he was 8.
Shelby graduated from Mt. Whitney High School, Visalia, California, Class of 1962. During his freshman year, he met the love of his life, Julie Anne Owdom. He could tell you exactly where he was, who he was with, and what she wore the first moment he saw her. He told his friend that day that she was the woman he was going to marry. Of course, she would not even date him until their junior year, two years later. They married in 1963, and their marriage lasted over 60 years. After graduation, Shelby attended business school in San Francisco, California, where they eventually settled, dividing their time between the city and Humbolt County, California.
Shelby was an idea man with a big personality. He made friends wherever he went and loved a new challenge. He held firm to his beliefs and was honest and loyal to a fault. Shelby owned and operated many businesses over the years while creating a career in the election industry. These ventures included making leather crafts, an antique store (he was an American picker in the 1970s before that was even a thing), a woodstove shop, and a dry cleaners. He built out a lobster boat, rebuilt an 1890s log cabin on Mattawamkeag Lake, and owned a Harley Davidson Fatboy. His last business, Elections Products Inc., saw the development and patent of the first touchscreen electronic voting system in the US.
After retirement, he and Julie moved to Maine to be closer to their family. More than anything, Shelby loved his family. He was always there to help, give advice, and make you laugh. Words cannot describe how greatly he will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Julie (Owdom) Thomas; his daughter, Jennifer (Thomas) Larlee; son-in-law, Arthur Larlee; two grandchildren, Shelby Anne and John William "Jack" Larlee; his dog, Buckshot; and two black cats, Jimmy and Thomas. He was predeceased by his father, Frank Thomas; mother, Vestal (Vanderslice) Thomas Carder; and stepfather, George Carder.
Services will be private for the family. Shelby's love for his pets was great. He never met a stray animal that he didn't keep. Anyone wishing to honor Shelby's memory may make a donation to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Ave, Bangor, ME, 04401 (www.bangorhumane.org). Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shelby Thomas, please visit our flower store.
July 29, 1944 – April 6, 2024
BANGOR - Shelby Dean Thomas, 79, passed away peacefully at home with his family on Saturday, April 6, 2024, after battling cancer. He was born to Vestal Leota (Vanderslice) Thomas and James Franklin Thomas on July 29, 1944, in Morrilton, Arkansas. He moved from Arkansas to Farmersville, California, with his family when he was 8.
Shelby graduated from Mt. Whitney High School, Visalia, California, Class of 1962. During his freshman year, he met the love of his life, Julie Anne Owdom. He could tell you exactly where he was, who he was with, and what she wore the first moment he saw her. He told his friend that day that she was the woman he was going to marry. Of course, she would not even date him until their junior year, two years later. They married in 1963, and their marriage lasted over 60 years. After graduation, Shelby attended business school in San Francisco, California, where they eventually settled, dividing their time between the city and Humbolt County, California.
Shelby was an idea man with a big personality. He made friends wherever he went and loved a new challenge. He held firm to his beliefs and was honest and loyal to a fault. Shelby owned and operated many businesses over the years while creating a career in the election industry. These ventures included making leather crafts, an antique store (he was an American picker in the 1970s before that was even a thing), a woodstove shop, and a dry cleaners. He built out a lobster boat, rebuilt an 1890s log cabin on Mattawamkeag Lake, and owned a Harley Davidson Fatboy. His last business, Elections Products Inc., saw the development and patent of the first touchscreen electronic voting system in the US.
After retirement, he and Julie moved to Maine to be closer to their family. More than anything, Shelby loved his family. He was always there to help, give advice, and make you laugh. Words cannot describe how greatly he will be missed. He is survived by his wife, Julie (Owdom) Thomas; his daughter, Jennifer (Thomas) Larlee; son-in-law, Arthur Larlee; two grandchildren, Shelby Anne and John William "Jack" Larlee; his dog, Buckshot; and two black cats, Jimmy and Thomas. He was predeceased by his father, Frank Thomas; mother, Vestal (Vanderslice) Thomas Carder; and stepfather, George Carder.
Services will be private for the family. Shelby's love for his pets was great. He never met a stray animal that he didn't keep. Anyone wishing to honor Shelby's memory may make a donation to the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Ave, Bangor, ME, 04401 (www.bangorhumane.org). Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
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