We lost Jamie’s Dad, Jim Thomas, a few weeks ago. Anyone who knows us and our farm, knows how much family is a part of everything we do. Jim grew up in southern Indiana, a tobacco farmer. His strong family farming roots were woven into Jamie, and are still growing today at our farm.
Jamie’s folks helped us start the nursery, and Jim was with us every step along the way as our business grew. When he retired, he loved to help out by mowing the nursery for us, lending us trucks & trailers, delivering trees, planting trees – anything we needed he was there.
As our family came together to celebrate his life, we heard such amazing stories about his early life on his family’s tobacco farm in Lexington, IN. Stories about a farm life so different from what we know today, but also so much the same. Throughout Jim’s life here in Illinois, he planted new roots that still flourish and grow through everyone who knew him. He was a steady friend, a caring mentor, a fair boss, a fatherly uncle, a loving brother, and the most devoted husband, dad, and grandpa you can imagine.
Our family tree will never be the same without him. Our family tree is everything because of him 
Jim on mowing detail – his favorite job 🙂
Shortly after Jim – with no rain around – his grand-daughter Lauren caught this beautiful rainbow towards our farm. No words for this kind of beauty in our world!
Thomas Family 🙂
We planted a tree earlier this summer to celebrate his 80th birthday – a White Oak, the state tree of Illinois!
Jim and his brother & sisters planting a Tulip Tree – the state tree of Indiana!
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