Erskine Gerald Thomas, age 80, passed away Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 at his home in the Mt. View Community after a valiant battle with cancer. He was the youngest and last surviving child of Albert Ewing and Lillie Pearl Burns Thomas and was born March 1, 1927. He was preceded by both parents, brothers, Cliston and Albert Ewing Thomas Jr. and sisters, Maytle Bice, Audelee Mikell, Lorene Cochran and Catherine Ward. Erskine was a World War II veteran in the U.S. Army stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, retired from the city of Birmingham after working 30 years as an engineer and enjoyed playing golf in his later years. He was a member of North Highland Baptist Church, but was a longtime attendee of Mt. View Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father and friend who raised his children in a Christian home. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret Salyers Thomas, Hayden; son, Tommy (Renee) Thomas, Decatur; daughter Suzanna (James) Sitton, Hayden; grandchildren Tommy Thomas, II, Decatur; Zachary King, Hayden and Zoe and Riley Sitton, Hayden as well as many special nieces and nephews. Rev. Brian Smith, Rev. Tommy Swann and Rev. C.J. Shaver officiated the chapel service at Messmer-Goodwin Funeral Home in Warrior with burial in Graves Gap Cemetery in Hayden. Messmer–Goodwin Funeral Home, 225 Dana Road, Warrior, AL 35180, (205) 647–0253