Lanny Leroy "Butch" Thomas

Lanny “Butch” Leroy Thomas, 83, a longtime resident of Grays Harbor, died peacefully at his home on March 7, 2026. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, on August 3, 1942, to Frank S. and Mathilda A. (Cunningham) Thomas, Lanny grew up in the community that would remain his home for most of his life.

He served in the United States Navy until his discharge in December 1967. In his younger years he worked in the logging industry before opening and operating his own automotive repair shop. Lanny had a lifelong passion for cars and was rarely without a project or two underway in his shop.

He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughter Shelley (Jason) Haddix of Castle Rock, Washington; son Terry (Lisa) Thomas of Woodland, Washington; sisters Lana Takhar of Grand Ronde, Oregon, and Mary Emerson of Van Nuys, California; and three grandchildren, Tyler Boatsman, Bryan Thomas, and Elizabeth Thomas. Lanny was preceded in death by his first wife, Judy (Stoken), a grandson, Aaron Boatsman, and his siblings Delcie Totten, Frank “Buck” Thomas, and Eileen Nichols.