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Joseph Washington “J.W.” Thomas, Jr., 90, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 4. He died of natural causes at Advent Christian Village, where he lived the last two years of his life. He was born in Lee, on July 19, 1924. He was the son of Mamie and Joseph Washington Thomas, Sr. He was the last surviving child of a very large, old Madison County Family. He had one full brother, Stacy, and many half brothers and sisters. He left Madison County in the mid 1940’s to work in the fruit industry that had boomed after the war. While working for one particular fruit-packing house, he said his eye was often drawn to the manager’s daughter, “a pretty little thing,” named Edith Juanita Daniels. J.W. and “Nita” were married in September 1947. Together, with his father-in-law, they built his family home just outside Eagle Lake, Fl. J.W. was later employed by U.S.S. Agri. in Bartow for more than 25 years. He was a mechanic, welder and electrician. For most of his adult life, he owned a small cattle ranch in Alturas, Fl. His children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of him working with his cows and bottle-feeding calves. We will miss his sense of humor and a certain boyishness that remained in him to the end. He and Nita were married for 66 years before she preceded him in death in May 2014. He is survived by two daughters: Laneece Vann Condry and Dale Thomas (husband Jerry McDonald); grandchildren: Josie Gaskins (husband Daniel) and Jessica Diericks; one great-grandchild, Katie; and sister-in-law, Myrtle Daniels. There will be a graveside service at Midway Baptist Church in Lee, on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Flowers may be sent to Beggs Funeral Home at 235 NW Orange Ave., Madison, Fl.