Thomas

Michael A. Thomas Sr., 52, of Butler died Friday evening at the Emergency Room of Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Dec. 11, 1960, in Butler, he was a son of the late Charles M. Thomas Jr., and Elisa I. (DeMatteis) Thomas.

Mike was a 1978 graduate of Butler High School and had worked for Hovis Auto Parts in Zelienople, API in Butler and Hoffman Auto Parts in Butler.

He was a member of the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler and the American Legion Post 117 in Butler. Mike was an avid sports fan and loved Pitt, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Penguins, the Pirates and the New York Yankees, but especially dear to his heart were his beloved Dallas Cowboys. He was also a big softball fan, and after his playing days, he helped lead Antonia’s to the USSSA Northeastern USA Championship and was named to the All Tournament Coaching Staff for his efforts. Another passion of Mike’s was classic cars and drag racing.

Surviving are his son, Michael A. Thomas Jr. of Butler; two brothers, Charles V. (Marsha) Thomas of Butler and Robert A. Thomas of Chicora; two sisters, Mary Ann (Larry) Townsend of Sarver and Jacqueline Apel of Pittsburgh; nieces and nephews, Lisa, Christopher and Jennifer Thomas, Melissa Teeters, Stephanie (Steve) Kuligowski, Joseph (Jenita) Apel and Samantha (Brian) Schilling; one great-nephew, Brock Bruce Apel; and his beloved Pomeranian, Gizmo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Bruce Apel.

THOMAS — Friends of Michael A. Thomas Sr., who died Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 432 Center Ave., Butler. Interment will follow in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5037, New Castle, PA 16105 or 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, or to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Memorial Processing Center, 777 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.