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The recent swarm of small earthquakes, followed by Tuesday's

Aged 94, of Morgan Hill, fifth generation California cattle rancher, passed away quietly at home with his family. George was born in Madrone, CA to Preston and Lucy Thomas. He attended Burnett School, and graduated from Live Oak High School in 1933, where he was Student Body President and played on the varsity basketball team. After graduation, he received a basketball scholarship to University of Pacific which he declined, to stay at home and take care of the family ranch during World War II. Over the years, George's life continued to be dedicated to preserving and improving the Thomas Family Oak Flat Cattle Ranch , near Pine Ridge in Morgan Hill, which has been in the family since 1877. In 1943, George married Kathleen (Phyllis) Hendry, who arrived in town after graduating from UC at Berkeley who George remembered arriving in a shiny red convertible for her first teaching assignment at Live Oak High School. George is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis of 65 years and his children Patricia Reinhart (Mark) of Chico, George Preston Thomas, Jr., (Shelle') of Morgan Hill and Catherine Goodere (Greg) of Morgan Hill and eight grandchildren, Heather Bender, Megan Purdy, Alison McCoey, Marta Kingsbury, Preston Thomas, Lara Thomas, Braden Goodere and Sarah Goodere and eight great-grandchildren.

Gilroy