Lavone Charles Thomas, age 74, of Newport, TN, passed away Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Life Care Center in Morristown, TN after a lengthy illness.

Lavone was a graduate of Tanner School in Newport. He was employed as a concrete and brick mason earlier in his life in Newport, TN. He attended Swift Memorial Junior College where he met his future wife, Mary Ernestine Hatcher-Thomas, of Norton, VA.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alice Woods Thomas-Stewart and Clarence Pete Thomas; grandparents Ada and Porter Woods; stepfather Robert Stewart, all of Newport; his children Johnny Maurice Thomas and Vera Lee Bandy of Morristown, TN; uncle and aunts Pearl Woods, Sarah Woods, Rosa White, Matilda Hatcher, and Polly Ownsby; and cousins Margie Pruitt and Ada B. Robinson, both of Newport, TN and William "Bill" Woods of LaGrange, GA.

He is survived by his children and spouses: Walter Phillip Woods (Marcia) and Yvonne (Lewis) Simpson; all of Morristown; Ardena Marie Thomas, of Morristown, and fiancée Alonzo Arnold of Chattanooga, TN; Sammie Mae Ramsey (William "Bill") of Morristown; Mary Lynn Dykes (Dion "Don" Sr.) of Newport, TN; Melvinlene Thomas -Sims of Atlanta, GA; Elgin Robinson (Carolyn); Lou Nichols and Crystal Oglesby, all of Newport; former wife and special friend Mary Ernestine Hatcher-Thomas; aunt Bessie Thomas; both of Newport; sister-in-law Mary Hatcher of Alliance, OH; sons-in-law Donnell "Big Don" Bandy, Sr. and Jake Sims, Jr. of Morristown; daughter-in-law Janie Hicks-Thomas, also of Morristown; eighteen grandchildren: Tina Thomas of Knoxville, TN; April Ramsey, Ronota Thomas, Donnell "Lil Don" Bandy, Jr., Ikeshia Ramsey, Jecina Ramsey, Joseph Ramsey, Jake "J. J." Sims, III, Ciaria Simpson (Jordan Hayden), all of Morristown; Danielle Thomas of Atlanta, GA; Chelsey Dykes, Dion Dykes, Jr., Sonya Davidson, Keyshawn Robinson, Sametira Robinson, Crystal Carter, Isaiah and Isaac Oglesby, all of Newport; twenty great-grandchildren; cousins Katherine Carmichael, Robert Woods, James Pruitt, Sr., Walter "Rooster" Robinson, and Frances Robinson, all of Newport; a devoted friend Stella Ownsby of Newport; and a host of great-nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 5, 2010, from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Manes Funeral Home Chapel in Newport. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Betty Chandler officiating. The interment will immediately follow.

Manes Funeral Home in charge.