Michael Ray Thomas, 76, of Blythe, CA, passed away on December 8th, 2022 in Indio, CA after a long battle with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Michael was born on January 24th, 1946 to Ray and Nina Thomas in Meadville Pennsylvania. At a young age his family moved to California and Michael graduated from Millikan High School in Long Beach, California in 1964.

After graduation, Michael landed his first job as a phone installer and repair person for General Telephone Electric Company (GTE) for about 8 years. Within that time period Mike met his first wife Marilyn and welcomed the birth of his daughters Sheila and Deana. Soon after his divorce he met his current wife Jo Ellen who also worked for General Telephone and her son Corey.

During the summer of 1973 Mike and his family relocated to the Colorado River Valley near Blythe, California first living at the Aha-Quin river resort and then moving to Mesa Verde around 1981. Michael had friends who would weekend at the river and on one of those trips he fell in love with the area and was able to find employment with the local telephone company which started as Contel to GTE and then Verizon and Mike retired in 2003 and at the end of his career he specialized PBX systems installing and servicing phone systems for the city and county offices, hospital and both state prisons.

Mike was a member of the local Elks and Sons of the American Legion, He liked to work around house and garden he would spend time with family and friends boating on the river and riding buggies and ATC's in the desert. After his retirement he would take jeep trips to Utah and Arizona as well as exploring the local trails in the valley. But his real enjoyment was spending time with his grandchildren and taking trips to see his cousins in Oklahoma.

Anyone who knew Mike knew him for his dry humor and knew that he was the most loving father and husband a family could ask for. Mike was predeceased in death by daughter Sheila Lynn Thomas and Mother Nina V. Thomas and is survived by his wife Jo Ellen Thomas, Son Corey Thomas his wife Angela and daughter Deans Perez, his sister Cathi, her husband Chris Hachet and her sons Joey, Mathew and Eric and his Grandchildren Nicholas, Gillian and James.

A celebration of life potluck will be held on Friday January 13th, 2023 at the American Legion Post #24 at 137 North Ash Street, Blythe CA starting at 2 pm.