Iris Laverne Thomas Toombs

Iris Laverne Thomas Toombs, age 95, died June 25, 2022, in her home in Gurdon, Ark., following a prolonged illness and under the watchful care of her surviving daughter, Jacque McElhaney. Iris was born in Curtis, Ark., to her parents, Ira B. Thomas, Sr. and Stella Ryan Thomas, on August 30, 1926. A graduate of Arkadelphia High School, she attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and Ouachita Baptist University, majoring in Home Economics. She was married to Jack James Toombs of Gurdon for fifty-seven years. They brought their grandson, Mark Thomas Edds, into their home to raise after their older daughter, Julia Ann Edds, tragically died from leukemia in 1981. A model grandson, Mark brought great joy to them as they dedicated their lives to his care. He graduated from Gurdon High School and Ouachita Baptist University and later married Shannon Atwood. They are the proud parents of five children: Jackson, Parker, Joshua, Owen, and Julia Diane; and one child, Alex, who died in pre-infancy. Iris is survived by her daughter, Jacque T. McElhaney; grandsons: Mark Edds (Shannon), Maumelle, Ark.; Bob Freeze (Julie), Fairborn, Ohio; granddaughter, Robyn Gross (Mark), Foreman, Ark.; great-granddaughters: Julia Edds, Olivia Freeze, Myranda Gross; great-grandsons: Jackson, Parker, Joshua, and Owen Edds, Chance and Chase Gross, Robert Freeze III; great-great-granddaughter, Ramsey Gross. And two sisters: Annette T. Dunn, Texarkana, Ark., and Ruth T. Barham of Hayden, Colo. Iris was preceded in death by her husband, Jack James Toombs; daughter, Julia Ann Edds; mother, Stella Ryan Thomas; father, Ira B. Thomas, Sr.; sisters: Marjorie T. Stevenson, Curtis; Joyce T. Stiffler, Gurdon; Mary Ann T. Newton, Curtis; Judith T. Johnson, Dallas; brother, Ira B. Thomas, Jr., Curtis; and great-grandson, Alex Michael Edds, Maumelle. Iris said that the community of Curtis, and the women of First Baptist Church in Curtis, helped their family to survive the loss of their mother. She was raised in that church and was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ all of her life. She was a member there and also spent her entire adult life in Beech Street Baptist Church in Gurdon. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a Bible scholar who never missed an opportunity to witness to her faith. Graveside services will be conducted by Pastor David Graves at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, June 29, at Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon, Ark. Arrangements are under the direction of Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home, Gurdon, Ark. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Beech Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 408, Gurdon, Ark., 71743.