Marcia M. Thomas

Marcia Minida Thomas passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington, with her loving family by her side. She was 84 years old. With grace, strength, and courage, Marcia fought a brief battle against an aggressive lung cancer.

Born on March 21, 1941, in Bellingham at the “old St. Luke’s Hospital” to Viola and Herb Gorne, Marcia was a proud Bellingham girl through and through. She married her BHS Class of ‘59 high school sweetheart, Gordon "Gordie" Thomas. The two shared 63 wonderful years of marriage that were filled with laughter, adventure, and an unwavering partnership.

Marcia was a devoted mother to Brenda Arend (Jack) of Olympia and Brett Thomas (Maria “Shay”) of McCleary. When grandkids came along, she quickly treasured the title of "Grandma." She adored her grandchildren—Kaisha, Collin, Alissa, Mia, Ania, Amanda, Emily, and Thomas—and was thrilled to have the chance to be a great-grandma to six more! Her love for family was deep and wide.

A lifelong caregiver by both profession and nature, Marcia earned her nursing degree with top honors from the University of Washington. Over her career, she worked in multiple settings including hospice, St. Joseph’s Hospital, women’s health, and family practice, bringing her best to every patient she cared for.

After retiring, Marcia found another way to care for her community through the Bellingham Assistance League, where she volunteered for 20 years. She loved being part of something that made a tangible difference in people’s lives, especially children and families. It was a place where her intelligence, sense of humor, and strong sense of purpose all found a home.

When she wasn’t helping others, Marcia was elbow-deep in soil, tending to the yard she fussed over for decades. Anyone visiting the home got a personal tour of the gardens—flowers, fruit trees, raspberries, and enough vegetables to share with friends and family. Marcia loved entertaining, hosting many gatherings for drinks and snacks on the back deck, or a great meal together at the table inside. Most years there was a cat in the Thomas home, and Marcia treasured ending a day with one curled up warm on her lap.

Marcia and Gordie spent many happy years boating through the San Juan Islands, camping with close friends, and exploring the beaches and backroads of Mexico. Summers on Lummi Island were another favorite—where there was often more crab than could be eaten, and Marcia could be found happily digging for steamer clams or scanning the beach for the perfect agate. Through the years, she and Gordie lived in Bellingham, Arizona, and Florida, finding adventure and enjoying what each community had to offer, but her favorite place was being close to family and friends.

Marcia’s life was defined by joy and love for her family, her community, her home, and her work. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a sharp wit, and an enduring loyalty to everyone she loved. She will be missed beyond words and remembered always.

There will be no public services. If people wish to make a donation in her honor, they can do so to the Bellingham Assistance League or the Alternative Humane Society.