Mary Ellen Thomas

Mary Grabill Thomas (85), of Lookout Mountain, Ga, passed away on June 24th, 2026 surrounded by her loving family at home. Mary was a beloved wife, mother, aunt, sister, friend, grandmother, and great-grandmother and never met a stranger she couldn’t turn into a friend. She lived her life with an insatiable joy and unwavering compassion for others, praying for all of us each morning and each night. She was born June 28th, 1940 in Columbus, OH. She graduated from West High School in 1958 and Mount Carmel School of Nursing in 1961. From there, she married the love of her life Jim, on May 5th,1961 and built a life together for the next 65 years. Between being a mother of 4 and neighborhood “Mom”, Mary also worked for over 20 years as a nurse in many different settings: hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and home health. She always had funny stories to tell about dodging the nuns in nursing school when they were out past curfew or when they were missing elements of their uniforms–stories that her kids and grandkids will always laugh about when they get together. Her greatest contribution to this world, however, was that as a grandmother and great grandmother. She taught her grandchildren how to love, how to bake, how to laugh, and how to live life with integrity and faith. She will be remembered for being the singer of the silly songs (like the perennial classic, “Weenie Man”) and the official singer of “Happy Birthday” over the phone. She was the one to hold their hands when the beach waves were too big and gave the best advice to them when they called. Mary is survived by her husband, James Thomas, her children: Father Mark Thomas, Cindy (Brian) Lassahn, Charlie (Kris) Thomas, and Rob (Jennifer) Thomas; her grandchildren Nikki Lassahn, Bryn (Jennie) Thomas, Jamie (Katy) Lassahn, Shea (Kelsey) Thomas, Lucas (Judy) Thomas, Haley Thomas, Sumner (Sydney) Thomas, Annie Thomas, and Sarah Helen Thomas; great-grandchildren Jude and Isaac Smalling, Barrett and Charlotte Lassahn and Jacob, Harper and Liam Thomas and her sister Nyla Johnson. Preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Everett Grabill, and brothers and sisters Rex Grabill, Carl Grabill, Jerry Grabill, Ray Grabill, Paul Grabill, Phyllis Jaynes, Ann Dent, Lee Grabill, Clara Callahan, Nancy Burtch and Dean Grabill. A Memorial Mass will be held August 1, 2026, 11:00 am at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church on Lookout Mountain. Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net. The family would like to thank the angel hospice nurses of Amedisys for their compassion and care to help Mary transition into her next adventure with dignity and grace. Services entrusted to Ryan Funeral Home & Crematory, Trenton, GA.

Mary Ellen Thomas

June 28, 1940 - June 24, 2026