Loretta "Carole" Thomason

Loretta Carole Thomason,56, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 9, 2017. Carole was the daughter of the late C.D. and June Purkey Thomason of Russellville, TN. 

Growing up in Russellville, she attended Morristown-Hamblen High School East and also graduated from Walters State Community College. She moved to Johnson City in 1982 to continue her education. Although she worked briefly at various businesses in the Tri-Cities area, including the Johnson City Medical Center, Waste Management of Tri-Cities and GlaxoSmithKline in Bristol, Carole was dedicated to her alma mater and employer East Tennessee State University, having received both a B.S. and an M.Ed. from ETSU. 

She was an avid amateur genealogist who enjoyed spending many, many hours researching and publishing her family history. She recently became a member of the National Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2015, at the age 53, Carole accepted Christ as her savior, was baptized, and began a new life in Christ. 

Along with her parents, Carole is preceded in death by her mother's brothers and sisters, Roy, Joe, Charles and Powell Purkey, Ruth Thompson, Mary Combs, and Edith Johns and all their spouses; her father's brother and sister, J.B. Thomason and Marietta Mahan; and cousins Gerri Sutton, Joey Goforth, Bill Thompson and Marie Pardue. 

Carole is survived by her sister, Kaye Thomason of Atlanta, GA,; special aunt Wanda Thomason, and many much-loved cousins. She always kept a place in her heart for her former step-children, Allen and Hope Goodloe. Carole also leaves behind her beloved cat, Smokey Joe. 

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 pm Thursday, December 14, 2017 at Allen Funeral Home; A brief funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm, with Brother Blaine Kelly officiating. Graveside services are scheduled for 10:00 am Friday, December 15, 2017 in Bethesda Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hamblen County Archives, located in the lower level of the Morristown Courthouse, 511 W. 2nd North St., Morristown, TN, or to the Friends of Bethesda Cemetery organization, PO Box 724, Morristown, TN 3 7815. 

Allen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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