Robert Eugene Thomas

Robert Eugene Thomas, age 77, of Copperhill passed away Sunday, July 23, at WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center in Marietta surrounded by family members.

Mr. Thomas was born September 30, 1939, in Copperhill to the late Ida Mae Goss Thomas and Roy Robert Thomas. He was raised in the Kingtown section of McCaysville.

Robert graduated from West Fannin High School in 1957. During his senior year, he was Boppin' Bobby on AM radio station WCPH in Copperhill.

Not long after graduation, he moved his family to Buford, Georgia, where he re-entered the radio business and went on to own his own radio station, WDMF. Then, in the mid-1960s, he joined the Decatur-DeKalb News as an advertising account executive.

Robert returned to his native Fannin County in November, 1971, when he was hired as the general manager of the Blue Ridge Summit-Post. Robert opened his own newspaper in Blue Ridge, The News Herald, in the mid-1970s. He published that newspaper until 1990 when he sold it to Community Newspapers Inc., and the owners combined it with The Observer, creating today's The News Observer. After retirement, he was elected for one term as the mayor of Copperhill.

Besides his parents, Robert was preceeded in death by his brother, Ronnie, sister Barbara Jeannene who died at birth, and his previous wife of 26 years Mary Lois Neal.

He is survived by his his loving wife, Sandy Thomas of the home in Copperhill; four daughters, Phyllis (Jere) Norris of Acworth, Janice Rolan of McCaysville, Amy (Glenn) Harbison of Copperhill, and Constance (Rex) Harris of Morganton; sister, Peggy Thomas Brackett of Marietta and the late Bill Brackett; brother, Col. (Ret.) Joseph Terry (Patricia) Thomas of Epworth; grandchildren, Jason and Anna Norris of Dallas, Georgia, Christopher Payne of Phenix City, Alabama, Julie (Brett) Rush of Vacaville, California, Ashley (Tyler) Mayo of Wahiawa, Hawaii, Evan Asbury of Morganton, Derek (Adrienne) Summerville of Alexandria, Virginia, and Savannah Barber of Florence, South Carolina; great-grandchildren, Natalie and Jacob Norris of Dallas, Georgia, Evelyn Rush of Vacaville, Calfornia, Nolan and Tori Mayo of Wahiawa, Hawaii, and Reegan Payne of Phenix City, Alabama; his best friend, Herb Hood of Copperhill; several nieces and nephews; and special furbabies Modine the doggie and Baracko the kitty.

The family will meet with friends Wednesday, July 26, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Finch-Cochran Funeral Home in McCaysville.

The funeral service will follow at 4:30 p.m. at Kingtown Baptist Church in McCaysville with the Rev. Joey Buchanan and the Rev. Jennings Neeld officiating.

Finch-Cochran Funeral Home of McCaysville is in charge of arrangements.