Jean Tomalis

Jean Tomalis

June 27, 1941 – May 29, 2024

Jean Tomalis, born as Emilie Gay Chavous to her mother Hazel Melissa James (Venable) and her father George Hollis Gay who passed away before she was born, came into this world on June 27th, 1941 in Augusta, Georgia. Her young life was not easy; she was taken from her family and put in a convent boarding school in West Virginia, last saw her family at the age of 16, survived awful experiences in foster homes, and more.

Despite the trauma, hardships, and health challenges she faced throughout her life, she maintained grace, dignity, tenacity, and boundless love and kindness. While living and working in Syracuse, NY she met Joseph Tomalis and married him upon moving to Toledo, Ohio. She helped raise his children Joseph Jr. and Mary from his previous marriage to the late Mary Gail Miller and brought Ken and Karen into the world.

She had a passion for reading, learning as much as she could about anything and everything, doing various crafts and ceramics with a Toledo/Maumee-based ceramic society and the annual shows held at the Lucas County Recreation Center, card games and lunch outings with her dear friends, cooking, baking, and cake decorating, volunteering at her children’s schools, and keeping her mind sharp with crossword puzzles and other brain teasers. Her favorite weekend tradition was getting her hair done at the Lion’s Store beauty salon at Southwyck Mall, with Peggy working magic with braids and flowers in Jean’s beautiful long hair into hairstyles for all holidays.

Jean will be lovingly remembered for her ‘grin from ear to ear’, her love of all kinds of music and knack for memorizing song lyrics, photographing every gathering or event, her sense of humor, her loving and kind nature, and ALWAYS wanting to help others. She was preceded in death by her brother Clarence Walton and sister Evelyn, her mother Hazel Melissa James, husband Joseph Tomalis Sr. and son Joseph Tomalis Jr. She is survived by her daughter Karen and son-in-law Tony, son-in-law Rick, son Ken, daughter Mary (Chuck), granddaughter Brianna and grandson Jacob, brothers and sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private ceremony was held at Walter Funeral Home in Toledo, OH, and a celebration of life feast will be held on her birthday, June 27th at South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc., located at 26641 Lawrence Ave., Center Line, MI 48015 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM.