James Edward Thomas, 99, of Indian Head, Maryland.

James Edward Thomas is the youngest of the three children born to Katie and McKinley Thomas. His birth mother passed when he was three and when his father married Emma, she lovingly raised him.

James had many interests. His love of fishing began as a young boy and continued through his adult life. As a young man, he would fish before work to help feed the family. Along with fishing, James loved to cook, frying the fish he caught, and picking and cooking greens. When his father bought a new push lawnmower with blades, James got a job cutting grass for an insurance agent for ten cents. This began his lifelong love of cutting grass, which turned into a small business after he retired.

James enjoyed musical instruments, owning harmonicas, an accordion, and guitars, even though he could not play a tune. He was talented at sewing, mending his torn clothing, hemming his slacks, and replacing lost buttons on all his clothes.

After graduating from Pomonkey High School, James worked at the Naval Ordnance Station, where he made explosives and helped produce "Colors in the Sky" ballistics.

In 1941, James joined the US Army as a Technical Sergeant in the 637 ^th Ordnance Ammunition Company, and due to his expertise in making explosives at the Ordnance Station, his service was deferred for three months. James served in Germany, Italy, France, and Holland behind the Siegfried Line, and was discharged from the Army in 1946 on January 15th, without knowing that this future wife was a sophomore at Bowie that year. His sister, Emmagene, also a student at Bowie, happily introduced Louise to James. In 1949, James married Mary Louise Nutter, and settled into family life with his wife and children.

After 34 ½ years, James retired from the Naval Ordnance Station and his coworkers gave him a router for his saw. This began a love of woodworking and creating coffee tables, decorative and functional items for the home, and large Old English letters that adorn the front of his and some neighbors' homes.

For 34 years, he called Bingo for the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of St. John, Saint Mary's Star of the Sea, and various other organizations. He also bowled in various leagues for 15 years and won 1 ^st Place in the Knights of Columbus Bowling League. He traveled to tournaments and won over 15 trophies.

His Catholic faith was very important to James, and he considered the priesthood. Instead, he chose to be active in the church and served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary's Star of the Sea for over 35 years.

James is preceded in transition by his parents, McKinley, Katie, Emma Thomas; brothers, William and wife Mary (Butler), John Francis and wife Effie, and McKinley (Mack); sisters, Elizabeth Willis (Thomas) and husband, Ederson,Agnes Catherine Barnes (Thomas), husband Theodore Anna Mae Davis (Thomas) and husband, George, Theresa Taylor (Thomas) and her husband, Henry (Buddy) and son-in-law, Anthony Prado, III.

James is survived by his loving wife, Louise; children, Tyvise Moss and husband Michael, Leslie and wife Gail, Jana Prado and Janet Barbour; grandchildren, LaMarr Queen, Diallo Queen, Ilia Prado and husband Jerome Fitchett, Ian Thomas, Erica Wingate-Robinson and husband Robert, Marco Prado and wife Jazmine, Evan Thomas, Tais Prado, Ariel Thomas, Janin Barbour, Brandon Pugh; great grandchildren, Tyvise Queen, Mateo Prado, Ilario Fitchette, Savannah Wingate-Robinson, Zayne Wingate-Robinson, Lourdes Fitchette, Nezahri Pugh, and Maxwell Pugh; great great-grandson Amari Graves, Margaret Emmagene Baker (Thomas) and her family, Gertrude Outerbridge (Thomas) and husband Rufus and family; brothers, Philip Thomas and wife Virginia and their family, Charles and his wife Gloria and their family, and many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Thank you all for loving James, and may God Bless all of you each and every day. May James rest in peace and his memory be a Blessing.

Viewing, 9:30 a.m., until Mass of Christian Burial, 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 22, 2023, at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 30 Mattingly Avenue, Indian Head, Maryland 20640. Interment, St. Charles Cemetery,  4970 Strauss Avenue, Glymont, Maryland 20640.