Kevin Thomas

husband, father, grandfather, teacher, coach and mentor - died early Friday morning, December 19, 2014. He remained strong and determined to the end. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side.Born March 3, 1942 to Tyner and Dorothy Thomas (later Dorothy Martin), Kevin spent his early years in Seattle. He played youth football - riding multiple city buses to get to practices - and became a Golden Gloves boxer at the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club. He later moved to Issaquah - living in the house of his Grandmother and Grandfather Castagno - to attend middle and high school. Kevin continued his passion for sports, earning many varsity letters and being named an all-conference football player. The way he always told it, his life changed when he met the prettiest girl in eighth grade, Kirsten Merrill. The two were married five years later in 1961.Pacific Lutheran University offered Kevin a football scholarship. He and Kirsten moved to Tacoma. He majored in biology; played both ways on the Lutes squad; and received his teaching degree.He went back to Issaquah in 1965 to begin his teaching and coaching career, where he roamed the sidelines with his close friend, Gary Moore. Kevin had a great run as a coach. Over the years, he left his mark on programs in cities across Washington state: Moses Lake, Ridgefield, Lake Stevens, Sultan, Kent and Puyallup. He was particularly fond of the memories surrounding the Lake Stevens High School football squad that he and his staff led to the 2A state championship game at the Kingdome in 1985. He also cherished being on the Tom Ingles-led staff that guided Kentwood to a series of 4A state football championship games between 2000 and 2003.However, he was perhaps most proud of the smaller victories that involved making individual students feel important and valued - in the classroom, on the field or on the hiking trail. He helped lead students on numerous treks up local mountains and along the beach on the Olympic Peninsula. (His ability to start a fire in the driving rain was the stuff of legend.) The positive impact he had on hundreds of children in various districts can never be quantified.Kevin and Kirsten retired in 2009 to Poulsbo, where they enjoyed spending time with one another, friends and extended family. Kevin took extreme pride in both his children and his grandchildren. He was always a most enthusiastic audience member at the kids' performances. He would turn to the person next to him and say "See that girl up there? That's MY granddaughter." In his later years, he loved to walk the sidelines of soccer games, talking to other parents, mostly about how great his grandchildren were. Kevin showed everyone around him what true loyalty looks like. He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and raunchy sense of humor.Kirsten and the family would like to express their deep gratitude to the caring staff at Martha & Mary in Poulsbo where Kevin spent his last two years.Kevin is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kirsten Thomas; his three children, Kevin Thomas (Mary) of Bainbridge Island, Kim Thomas of Seattle, and Kellie Thomas of Seattle; his grandchildren, Mackenzie and Reed Thomas; his brother, John Thomas (Donna) of Haida Gwaii, BC; his beloved dog, Tucker; and many family and friends. He is predeceased by both of his parents.Kevin's family is holding a party to celebrate his life at the Sons of Norway in Poulsbo on Sunday, January 11, 2015 starting at 1:00PM. If you plan to attend, please send an email to kimmichelle@earthlink.net and please be sure to tell us how many folks will be in your group. It will be a casual affair, as Kevin would have wanted it. We plan to raise a glass to him - and to remember him with stories, music and photographs.In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Kevin's memory to DonorsChoose.org, which supports teacher-specified projects for classrooms in need. This is right up his alley.