Kathleen May Thomas

1900 - 1982  (82 years)

• Name	Kathleen May Thomas  [1]
  Born	4 May 1900	Maryborough, Queensland, Australia   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Died	27 Aug 1982	Laidley Hosp, Laidley, Queensland, Australia   [2]
  Buried	31 Aug 1982	Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
  Notes	Born in Maryborough, Queensland in 1900 Her mother died during the birth of her second child in Maryborough. Mother and baby buried in Maryborough Cemetery in same grave. Brought up by paternal grandparents at 6 Coventry St, Maryborough. After father's remarriage she continued to reside at Coventry St. Educated at Maryborough Central School. Learned piano from a Miss Concannon, (also Madge Deakin?). In due course gained Associate of Trinity College London. Was recognised as an accomplished accompanist in Maryborough especially for eisteddfods and as a competent teacher of the piano. Her pupils had considerable success in music examinations. She was also frequently called upon to act as church organist especially at the Fort St Baptist Church, Maryborough. Married in 1924 to Benjamin Francis Van Cooten, at Fort St Baptist Church, by Rev Percy Goodman. Benjamin was working in the family general store, Van Cooten and Sons, at Howard, Queensland - 18 miles from Maryborough. Their first home was purchased close to the shop in Howard. Established their own business in Maryborough about 1927 at 87 North St, Newtown, Maryborough. The business was closed in 1940, after which the family moved to Nambour where Benjamin became an MLC Assurance representative. In 1950 Benjamin was transferred by MLC to Toowoomba. In 1952 he left MLC to work for Dunsters General Store and Bakery. He worked there until 1957 when the premises were sold. The remaining years until 1961 he worked at various temporary positions in Stanthorpe and Tara. Kathleen taught piano continuously in Howard, Maryborough, Nambour and Toowoomba and Stanthorpe until she was 79 years old. Whilst the income from her teaching was always important, even more important was her desire to teach and impart the talent that she had. Kathleen and Benjamin were both involved in Sunday School teaching wherever they happened to be living. Benjamin was deacon and church treasurer at Nambour Baptist, Toowoomba Baptist, and Stanthorpe Baptist churches. Lived at 19A Gladstone St, Toowoomba, Queensland, from 1950. Entered Karinya Baptist Home for the Aged, Laidley during 1982.
  Person ID	I1055	Van Cooten
  Last Modified	22 Mar 2017

  
  

  Father	William Thomas,   b. 23 Oct 1877, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 10 Sep 1964, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia  (Age 86 years)
  Mother	Eliza Jane McFarlane,   b. 12 Nov 1869, Dundathu, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 4 Aug 1902, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia  (Age 32 years)
  Married	7 Jun 1899	Maryborough, Queensland, Australia   [1]
  Family ID	F40	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Benjamin Francis Van Cooten,   b. 23 Feb 1898, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 3 Sep 1961, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia  (Age 63 years)
  Married	17 May 1924	Maryborough Baptist Church, Queensland, Australia   [2, 3]
  Children	1. Gwenyth Ann Van Cooten,   b. 26 Dec 1925, St Margarets, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia ,   d. 18 Sep 2006, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia  (Age 80 years)   2. Elwyn Frances Van Cooten   3. Graham Thomas Van Cooten   4. Eric Lloyd Van Cooten
  Last Modified	22 Mar 2017
  Family ID	F666	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S265] Birth of Kathleen May Thomas, District Registrar, Maryborough, Queensland. [S152] Van Cooten Family Bible. [S558] Marriage of Benjamin Francis Van Cooten to Kathleen May Thomas.