Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1936

MATTHEW BAREFIELD THOMAS, 60, of Nokomis, FL died May 11, 1978 in Gainesville, FL. He was born in Spur, TX and was a Baptist by faith. Barfield attended Hodges Oak Park Elementary School and was Valedictorian of Ranger High School 1936 graduating class at Ranger, TX. While Barfield was in school in Ranger, his father was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ranger. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Hardin Simmons University; Master of Education from the University of Denver; and did extensive work on a PhD degree from Columbia University in NYC. He was principal of Nokomis Elementary School for eight years, a member of the school administration board in Breckenridge, TX for five years; a member of the school administration in Denver, CO, for at years; and with the Pelham, N.Y. school system for 10 years. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Mina Thomas of Nokomis; two daughter, Julie Thomas Fizgerald of Denver; Bette Thomas Floreani of Hawaii; three grandchildren, Debbie and Randy Floreani, and Kimberly Fitzgerald, also a brother and two sisters.