Esther Pauline Thomason, age 92, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2022, at Flora Gardens Care Center.

        She was born July 27, 1930, in Olney, the daughter of Peter and Stella (Scherer) Fulk.  She was united in marriage to Raymond Thomason on September 3, 1951, and together they shared 51 wedding anniversaries until his death on January 7, 2003.  

        Pauline was a graduate of Richland County High School.  She loved flowers, and her green thumb produced beautiful gardens year-round; taking walks until she physically could no longer do so was one of her favorite daily rituals; she loved playing Bingo with all her friends at Heritage Woods; and doing daily word search puzzles kept her busy.  When she was younger, she volunteered endless hours at a local nursing home, as she loved helping others.  She enjoyed getting together with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Pauline's pride and joy was that she and her husband Raymond adopted five children from Korea.  After being told they could not adopt any more than three children, she appealed this decision.  Congressman George Shipley from Illinois wrote a bill to eliminate the restriction on the number of children a family can adopt.  Both George and Georgia were named after Congressman Shipley. 

        She is survived by her children: June "Buster" Roland Thomason (Glenda Onyette) of Grayville, Eleanor Alice (Tim) Ramseier of Terre Haute, Indiana, Raymond (Jackie) Thomason Jr. of Panama City Beach, Florida, Georgia Ellen (James) Ewing of Flora, and George Edward (Samantha) Thomason of Orchardville; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a sister: Shelby Snider of Dundas; and many nieces and nephews.

        She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a daughter: Donna Jane Thomason; and 3 siblings.

        Our family is blessed to know that our mother is now walking alongside other loved ones who entered the gates of Heaven before her.  However, we are assured that her greatest joy is being in the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ in her Eternal Home.  The below words from a favorite family hymn, I Come to The Garden Alone, reflect the joy she is now experiencing: "And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known."

        We want to express our great gratitude to the staff at Heritage Woods of Flora, Flora Gardens Care Center, and Clay County Hospice for their wonderful facilities and the excellent care and compassion they showed to our mother during her last few years and days.

        A memorial ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  A visitation will be held from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations are suggested to Jireh India Mission and will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit www.frankandbright.com.