Nancy Ellen Stikeleather Thomas, 91, beloved mother, wife, musician and community volunteer continued her journey in God’s love, Dec. 2 in Cedar Rapids.
Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, at United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, with visitation one hour prior. Private family burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery
Arriving in Mount Vernon in 1967 with her husband, Rev. Dr. Richard Thomas, and children, she found many opportunities to pursue her passions for music and service to others. She served as Dean of the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists, as an accompanist for high school musical productions and competitions, and for hundreds of weddings and funerals.
Through her Nancy Thomas Studio, known affectionately as Nancy’s Notehouse, she taught piano to young people and adults.
She served as the Organist and Director of Music for the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church for many years, where she enjoyed bringing young people into the musical life of the congregation. While accompanying Richard on a study fellowship in Wales, she composed several Welch-inspired tunes that were later published in a British hymn text.
She was a long-time volunteer with the St. Luke’s Hospital Breast and Bone Center. Her work with the League of Women Voters helped to bring attention to the community need for childcare.
Nancy Ellen Stikeleather Thomas was born in Statesville, N.C., May 11, 1932 to John Clinton Stikeleather and Mary Ellen Summers Stikeleather. With music as her primary focus, she graduated from Scotts High School in 1950 and Flora Macdonald College in 1954. Graduate study in music and organ at Northwestern University followed, where she received a Master of Arts in Music in 1955.
At Northwestern she met Richard Thomas, a senior in the Garrett School of Theology. They married June 16, 1955. Prior to arriving in Mount Vernon, in tandem with Richard’s professional activities, Nancy was involved in musical activities of the United States Air Force base near Little Rock, Ark., and the university community at Princeton, N. J.
Nancy had a flair for sewing and created much of her own clothing for decades. She was an enthusiastic member of the Mount Vernon Entre Nous Literary Society. She enjoyed traveling to the places in Europe where her favorite composers lived and worked, to North Carolina to visit relatives, and to her children’s homes in Oregon, Texas and Ohio.
She will be remembered for her humility, grace and kindness.
She is survived by daughters Ellen Thomas and Jan Thomas (Gary Doernhoefer), son John Thomas (Melissa Thomas), and grandchildren: Eric Doernhoefer, Liz Doernhoefer, Anthony Thomas Zavin, Matthew Thomas and Lauren Thomas. Her husband preceded her in death earlier this year.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church. The family thanks Cottage Grove Place caregivers for their loving care of her and Richard.
Arrangements are by Stewart-Baxter. Remembrances may be sent via email to [email protected] or US mail co/ Jan Thomas, PO Box 703, Gambier, OH 43022.