Ina Marjorie Dumas

Dumas, Ina, 99 of St. Petersburg, died peacefully on December 9, 2011. Survived by her children Jim, Dale, and Mary; 6 grand children and 7 great grandchildren. We will miss her. Ina Dumas' Life - written by her family Our Mom, Ina Marjorie Thayer, was born on Sept 6th - 1912 - She was the 5th child born to Anna and Clifford Thayer - who had 6 more children after her birth. The family lived in Neoga, IL at the time of her birth. Ina had the longest life of all her siblings, surviving beyond the age of 99. Mom is lovingly remembered by her family for her optimism, grateful attitude, sense of humor and personal and often funny stories of situations and events in her life - and she had a bunch of them! One she particularly remembered and frequently repeated was her story of how she met her husband. Seems Ina travelled to Chicago from southern Illinois, fresh out of high school and against the will of great-grandmother, Anna Thayer, to join her older sister, Mildred - who had made this journey in earlier months. Ina needed a job right away to pay the rent, and ventured out to a drug store called Kramer's to apply at the lunch counter for a job as a waitress. She did not know her soon-to-be- husband (our Dad) was the manager of the lunch counter and quickly hired her. She later related it was "because he fell in love with her beautiful blue eyes!" It wasn't long before Mom was in love with this young, handsome, southern fellow, with a gentle personality and the nickname of "Slim" - and he was smitten, too. Slim was from Grenada, Mississippi and had joined his older brother, Duke -- in Chicago too, both looking for jobs. So, Ina Thayer and Howard Dumas were joined in holy matrimony in November of 1930, and thus began the journey of their joint-lives that took them from Chicago to Moline, IL and finally to St. Petersburg, FL -- for retirement. Three children were born between 1941 and 1952 - two boys and a girl. Dale was born first in 1941, Mary in 1943 and Jim in 1952. During those years, our Dad was first a salesman and later owner of a roofing and siding company, called The Reliance Improvement Company. Mom was happy and content to be a homemaker, and spent her time cooking, baking and serving the needs of her husband and children. She had many friends and enjoyed membership and participation in the women's activities of the East Moline Methodist Church. She belonged to the "Martha" circle and enjoyed having multiple luncheons prepared by her in her home, for her Circle members for their monthly meetings. After more than two decades of living in Moline, the cold winters became disagreeable to Mom and Dad. The family had enjoyed winter vacations to Florida during those years and always looked forward to going to the Suncoast. Dad was born and raised in the state of Mississippi and wanted to experience the warmth and sunshine of Florida. So at his age of 57 and Mom's age of 49, Dad began to plan his retirement In 1960, he began to make arrangements to sell his business in Moline and move the family to St. Petersburg, FL for retirement. Mom was very happy to make this move as well and since her older brother, Russell Thayer, also lived in St. Petersburg, the area seemed to be a perfect place to select. In June of 1960, Mom and Dad purchased a home of their dreams in St Petersburg and moved the family south in June of 1961. Mom immediately found a nearby new Methodist Church, called Lakewood United Methodist Church. The family soon joined this church and Ina continued for 4 decades to be an active member. Rev Rudolf McKinley was the first pastor, and a favorite of the family. Mom soon joined one of the women's church circles and appreciated the friendships formed within her circle and the activities and events involved with the church. She particularly liked to participate in the yearly rummage sale event. Mary and Dale were college age by 1961, and both went off to college at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL. Young Jim was only 9 years old and had to make the adjustment to a new grade school in St. Petersburg. The following years went by quickly with Mom and Dad enjoying the leisure pace of retirement. Mom began to develop an interest in sewing and spent many hours on her sewing machine, making clothing for herself, her grandchildren and doing alterations for friends and neighbors. Eventually, Dale, Mary and Jim married and began to raise families of their own. After college, Dale moved to Virginia, upon accepting a job with the Dept of the Navy. Dale met his lovely wife, Martha Thomas, in Alexandria, VA where he married and raised two daughters, Anne-Marie and Lisa. Mary married an Army officer, Allen Dwyer and moved to Army bases for several years with her military husband, eventually moving back to the Tampa Bay area and raising a son, Troy, with her husband. Jim ventured to Sarasota, where he wed his lovely wife, Judy Zakeer. Jim and Judy raised 3 boys - Cody, Justin and Chad. Sadly, Dad died in May of 1989 at the age of 84, after a difficult year of two cancer surgeries. Bereaved, Ina had to continue her life alone, without her loving life partner, and she missed her husband, Slim, terribly. She stayed busy with the many activities within her church and was grateful for her many friendships there. She was especially comforted by her good friend, Virginia Salisbury, who brought her roses from her garden and food from her table, along with an endless supply of kindness. Mom continued her hobby of sewing and spent many hours assisting her good friend, Virginia, who made beautiful hand sewn quilts. After Dad died, Mom was comforted by her children and 6 grandchildren, whom she adored. She loved to spend time with Anne-Marie, Lisa, Troy, Cody, Justin and Chad. And later she greeted her great grandchildren - Natalie, Andrew, Julie, Daniel, Amy, Bridget and Rachael. They are all here today to honor her and to celebrate the memory of her life. Mom's spirit is intricately intertwined in each and every heart here today. Mom came to live with her daughter, Mary, in the summer of 2000, in Burke, VA when she was 88. While still in good health for her age at this time, it was felt she should not continue to live alone. Dale and Martha along with granddaughter, Anne Marie and Jason and their children, (Grandma's great grandchildren) were then all eager and available to welcome her into their midst. There were many family holiday dinners, birthday parties, picnics and get-togethers and she thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family. She often said that she was so blessed and thankful for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and felt so lucky to have had the fortunate life she had been granted. The final two years of Mom's life were spent at Heron East Assisted Living Facility in Sarasota, Fl. There she made many friends and enjoyed playing Bingo, Scrabble, and excelled at math and word games. And this is the pathway Mom chose to depart this world - with thankfulness in her heart. She was a lady who always displayed a grateful spirit. Her grateful and positive attitude was the outcome of having lived a very fruitful, fulfilling and abundant life, filled with love and respect from her husband, family and many friends. And now we all release her into the gentle and loving arms of Christ, to join her deceased husband, her deceased parents and her eleven deceased sisters, brothers and friends to dwell in the spiritual realm and thrive within the eternity of our Loving Father, Jehovah God. -------------------------------------- end