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  • A memorial service for Andrew Gregory Thomas will be held 2 p.m. Monday at the Owasso Church of Christ, with Dan Schnell officiating. Services are under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

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  • Andrew Gregory Thomas (seen here at Christmas in 2007) is remembered by family members as a "bright young boy with a strong spirit" and a "joyous laugh." Thomas passed away Thursday from a rare blood infection similar to meningitis, called meningococcemia.

    Andrew002.jpg
March 13, 2010

MENINGITIS VICTIM - Family remembers Andrew

Tom Fink Staff Writer

OOLOGAH — Spring break was supposed to have been a good week in the Thomas household.

"We were going to be spending some time with my sister and her boys — Andrew always loved getting to see his little cousins," said Angela Thomas, Oologah resident. "We were probably going to have gone to Wal-Mart and maybe have gone walking in the park, if the weather had been good — you know, just have some quality family time."

But in the household of Andrew Gregory Thomas, this year's spring break this year entirely different than what they could have foreseen, as the family deals with the loss of seven-year-old Thomas. "He was a very bright soul who touched everyone he met," said Angela Thomas, Andrew's mother. "He had a way about him — he could be quiet at times, but when he was ready to lighten up, he would, and he'd just brighten any room he came into."

Thomas, a second-grader at Oologah Lower Elementary School, was the first of

two children to pass away last week after several Oologah students contracted a rare

blood infection disease called meningococcemia.

But regardless of the cause, the Thomases are left to heal from the loss of

Andrew — heal, and remember him for the daily blessing he was in their lives, and

the lives of others.

"His laugh ....you always knew when he was beating his daddy at cards, because

you'd hear him start laughing and you'd know his daddy was getting skunked,"

Angela said. "You'd hear it (Andrew's laugh) and you'd have to smile — you just

couldn't help it — it was so sweet, so infectious — you'd be smiling and find

yourself laughing with him. "He liked chasing his big sister, Bekke,

around the house and giving her hugs and kisses," she continued. "Even as she got

older and pretended to resist a little more, he'd still want to chase her around, laughing

that laugh, and he wouldn't stop until he caught her — or we held her down for

him — and he got his hugs."

"He always stuck close to mama and could be shy," said Brekke Thomas,

Oologah eighth grader and sister of Andrew. "Once he got to know you

though, he'd always want you around. He was so sweet. It's going to be hard living

without him."

Like most boys his age, Andrew enjoyed playing video games and "swords" with his friends, Angela said.

"He wasn't into sports yet — he just enjoyed staying close to home, staying close to his mom and dad and sissy," she said. "He did play Bakugan — he got some of his birthday money early and bought some Bakugan toys, some Pokemon toys, and some soft pants — he would not wear jeans. We were going to take him to see 'How to Train Your Dragon' in 3D for his 8th birthday — that's what he wanted to do."

"Andrew was a subtle but strong personality," said his older cousin, Shana

Jones. "He did everything in a gentle way and was always kind.

"My favorite memory is him playing `Bioshock' with my dad, his uncle Bruce,"

she said. "My dad was stuck and Andrew tried to tell him that he could go online and

get help. My dad didn't think much of it but continued to grumble about being

stuck. Andrew decided he would take care of it — he stood up, walked into our computer

room, asked me to type in "Bioshock walkthrough" and then found the place where my dad was stuck himself. "He called to his Uncle Bruce, telling him to 'come check this out' and he pointed at the screen and said 'see, I told you  the Internet can help'," she said. "This memory made me laugh then and still does. He was the king of video games and

loved playing them with his uncle Bruce. I will miss Andrew very much."

Angela said the family is dealing with their loss through "overwhelming" support

of family and friends, and keeping the memories of Andrew alive.

"He was my little `Tooger Tooger' — that's what I called him — he'd just run up to you with his little arms open wide — he'd love all those hugs and kisses," she said. "It's just so hard, him not being here — for all of us — always knowing he was there laughing and smiling and ready to give us kisses — that's what I'll miss the most — that was my boy."

A memorial service for Andrew Gregory Thomas will be held 2 p.m.

Monday at the Owasso Church of Christ, with Dan Schnell officiating. Services are

under the direction of Collinsville Dolton Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to the Tomas family at 9176 South 4174 Road, Oologah, OK, 74053. A fund will be set up in Andrew's name at a later time to offset hospital and funeral expenses incurred.

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