Source Girdner Funeral Chapel
Lifelong Siskiyou County Resident and number one fan of Fort Jones, Julia Ann Thomas passed away peacefully at home with her family, after a short battle with cancer.
Julia was born in Yreka to John and Clara Williams of Scott Bar. She was the youngest of seven children: James, David, Marie, Jack, Hazel and Virginia. In 1935 the family moved to the Ranger Station in Fort Jones, where her father was head Ranger.
Julia attended school in Fort Jones and graduated from high school (Go Cubs!) in 1949. After some time spent at Chico State and Humbolt College, She married Arthur Erickson in 1951 and welcomed 4 children: David, Robin, Laurel and Crystal.
Through the years Julia worked several jobs including delivering the mail to Scott Bar as a relief driver for her mother and working at Willard’s Store and Smiley’s Drug Store, all the wile raising her four children. In 1970 she went to work for the Post Office in Fort Jones, and served bouts as officer-in-charge in Hornbrook and Etna. She retired in 1991.
In 1980 Julia and her companion, later husband and true love, William (the bread man) Thomas made their home together in Fort Jones until his passing in February 2015.
After retiring Julia and Bill traveled the United States in their motor home for 2.5 years, putting 30,000 miles on it and an additional 30,000 miles on their little pickup. They would stop to visit family and friends along the way and almost every historical and non-historical site, all the while making it to all 50 states. They also traveled abroad to several countries on five different continents, though Machu Picchu in South America was the one place she didn’t make it to. She last traveled to the Panama Canal in 2019. She also loved trips to coast to go agate hunting and abalone diving. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching and just loving nature. She was always taking pictures of all her adventures, family and friends, and compiling albums and writing journals so she would always remember her life.
Julia was preceded in death by her parents John and Clara Williams; siblings, James Williams, David Williams, Marie Landof, Hazel Gedaly; her husband Bill Thomas. Her sons David and Robin Erickson. Step-sons, Michael, Billy and John Thomas; and step-daughter Christyne Richardson.
She is survived by her brother, Jack (Pat) Williams of Redding; sister Virginia (Joe) Church of Greenview, daughter Laurel Lovett of Fort Jones; daughter Crysal Erickson of Yreka; step-daughter Stacy (Wayne) Brown of Milwaukee, WI; 24 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, 2 great great-grandchildren, and she was a beloved Aunt to many nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service will be held at Fort Jones Cemetery on December 17th, at 12:00 noon. Please join us for a potluck at City Hall in Fort Jones fallowing the service.
In lieu of flowers, we welcome donations to the to the Fort Jones volunteer Fire Department. Or to an organization of your choosing.
