Edward A. "Cookie" Thomas III, 82, of 10 Pineridge Drive passed away on Monday, December 26, 2016 at home. Born on November 27, 1934 in Lee, he was the son of the late Edward A. Thomas Jr. and the late Pauline Uffret Thomas. A lifelong resident of Lee, he was educated in Lee schools and was a 1953 graduate of Lee High School where he was a standout athlete on the varsity baseball and basketball teams. He also attended the Lenox School for Boys. He was predeceased by his first wife, the former Joan Barea and by his second wife, the late Mildred Aldrich Thomas. Ed proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War. At the time of his passing he was the owner and operator of Thomas Memorials in Lee which he took over from his late father in 1981. His father had started the business in Lee in 1940. He was also employed at one time by the Town of Lee. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Lee. Ed enjoyed playing the piano. He was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and all Lee High School sports teams. He could always be found cheering on the Wildcats at the Western MA High School basketball tournament games at The Cage at UMASS.
He leaves his two daughters; Kim Moore of Davie, FL and Joni Thomas of Washington; DC. He also leaves his seven grandsons. Ed was also predeceased by his son, the late Edward A. Thomas IV.



FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Edward A. "Cookie" Thomas III who passed away December 26, 2016 will be private at Ed's request. There are no calling hours. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery in Lee. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of "Cookie" may be made to the First Congregational Church Building Fund in care of the DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 which is handling arrangements.