July 20, 1942 – September 26, 2024
Glenna Rae White (Na) Thomas, 82, went to be with the love of her life, our dad, on September 26 in Grand Junction, Colorado, after a brief illness.
Glenna was born on July 20, 1942, in Hotchkiss, Colorado, to Frank Bates and Clarabelle Short Bates. She spent most of her childhood in Colorado before moving to Moab to attend high school, where she fell in love and married a tall cowboy named Tommy White.
In the early years, Tommy worked for Charlie Steen. Glenna accompanied him, staying at the drill sites and learning to be a roughneck—which came in handy when they started the Tommy White Drilling Company. After the sale of their successful business, they were able to purchase the ranch he grew up on, now known as Red Cliffs Lodge.
Even as busy as ranch life was, Glenna was always happy to host the school district field trips. She loved showing the kids around the ranch and making it an adventure to remember. Glenna enjoyed hosting the Marlboro Cowboys several times each year, creating friendships that lasted a lifetime. She also spent her time hosting movies, commercials and big gatherings that kept her busy. Her favorite thing was cowboying with Tommy; you could often see them holding hands and walking along the irrigation ditches.
She and Tommy had four children: Cricket (Kent) Green, Jerry (Heather Jo) White, Colleen (Gregg) Tibbetts and Pamela (Marty) Seely. She was extremely involved in all of their and their grandchildren’s lives. The White Ranch and her home in Fruita were summer homes to many children who Glenna “fostered,” which became wonderful memories for all those who visited. She was a mother to many and a grandmother to all.
After Tommy passed, she married Lanny Thomas, moved to Fruita, Colorado, and worked beside him at Valley Livestock Auction. His children—stepdaughters Jackie (Chuck) Hoisington, Millie (Mike) Custer, Wyndy Harris, and stepson Dan (Jennifer) Thomas—and her best friend, Jeanine Waggoner Thomas as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren all welcomed her to their family, and she adored all of them.
Glenna loved getting away to her mountain property, known as 31. This is where she loved reading, relaxing and spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her best friend and sister, Kathleen Engstrom, whom she talked to daily; her brother, Harley Bates; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many cousins who were lifetime friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Tommy White; husband Lanny Thomas; beloved daughter Pamela Seely; parents, Frank Bates and Clarabelle Blanchard; stepfather Harley Blanchard; sister Wilma Collins; and brothers, Jimmy Bates and Jeff Bates.
Na was so grateful for the love and friendships she made in and around Fruita and will be missed.
A graveside service for Glenna will be held Friday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the White Family Cemetery (Mile Post 14 Highway 128, near Red Cliffs Lodge). The family requests that in lieu of flowers, you consider donating to Hope West of Grand Junction (www.hopewestco.org/donate).
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com
