Lynn Evan Thomas

Lynn Evan Thomas

Lynn Evan Thomas, 79, passed away on Sept. 2, 2017, surrounded by family.  Lynn was born in Burley, Idaho, on July 27, 1938, to Evan Morgan and Helene Yaeger Thomas.

Lynn grew up in Burley with his younger brother, Neal, and younger sister, Kathryn, and his parents.  Even at a young age, he excelled at communications.  He had a job at a local radio station, as the original “Night Rider”, a role that gained him some popularity amongst his peers.  He also had a Saturday radio show in Twin Falls, Idaho for the Junior Gem Collectors.  He had a great on-air voice, and undoubtedly, his sense of humor was evident.  He was quite the prankster, always looking for opportunities to pull one over on someone, once even disguising his voice and calling his grandmother convincing her she’d won tickets to a show for one of her idols.

Lynn graduated from Burley High School, and then went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Speech from Idaho State University.  He loved and excelled at debate in high school, and continued participating in debate competitions in college (in fact, he judged statewide debate competitions throughout his life).  He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where he met some lifelong friends.  After completing his undergraduate education, he attended Boston University on a full scholarship, where he obtained his Master of Science Degree in Communications in 1962.  It was then that he decided to join the Navy.

He entered Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and then NSCS Corps School in Athens, Georgia.  He became a Naval officer in September 1963, where he served on the USS Pocono as a Disbursing Officer.  During the course of his distinguished military career, he was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.  After he completed his military service, he attended George Washington University Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate of Law in 1969.

Lynn started his legal career in private practice in Pocatello, Idaho, before joining the Idaho Attorney General’s office as a Deputy Attorney General in 1974.  He was promoted to Solicitor General during his illustrious 23-year career with the Idaho Attorney General’s office, and even argued before the United States Supreme Court.  After leaving the Attorney General’s office, he continued practicing in private practice for a period of time. 

While his career kept him busy, Lynn lived a full life, filled with hobbies that he loved.  He was an avid reader, an amazing gardener (his roses were like no others!), a photographer, a gourmet cook and an extremely talented woodworker.  He loved listening to classical music, and would often wind down in the evening with the classical music booming, while smoking a good cigar.  He had close lifelong friends that he enjoyed spending time with, and he relished spending time with family.  He always made time for important life events, like birthdays, graduations, and weddings for his nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.  He also loved Christmas, and had the most beautifully decorated trees.  His gifts were wrapped to perfection, and inside were always the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts.  He was a generous, loving, and kind man, and despite his supreme talent and brilliant mind, he always remained humble. 

Left to honor and remember Lynn is his brother Neal (Linda) Thomas, his sister Kathryn (Paul) Piper: seven nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.  Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Evan and Helene Thomas, his sister, Patricia Thomas, his great-nephew, Mason Smedley, and his great-great niece, Alison Stout.