Betty Thomas

Our beloved Betty Lynn Thomas passed from this earth on October 23, 2016. Teacher and lifelong student of history. Lover of art and classical music. Travelled the world with open eyes, heart and mind. Champion of women’s rights. Gifted pianist and singer, ballroom dancer and novelist. Always pursuing enriching experiences, yet content and happy with simple pleasures. Endlessly curious, with a thirst for knowledge and deep-seated hunger for truth. Exceptionally intelligent and articulate. Reliably an objective voice of reason. A mentor, a role model, forgiving and full of love. So strong and so brave, she didn’t give up when the love of her life, Clifford Eugene Thomas, became devastatingly ill and died too young of Parkinson’s disease. She wouldn’t give up when she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer even though the doctors didn’t hold out much hope. Our miracle woman, over the next nearly twenty years, continued to fight as the cancer returned again and again. Cheerfully determined to keep trying until her body was too weak to go on any longer. Betty Lynn Thomas, a truly remarkable person, was so precious to us in life and in death will never be forgotten. As we go on and continue with our lives, things won’t ever be quite the same. Without her gentle wisdom in troubled times and pure joy with little victories shared, a part of our heart has gone away. She will be missed so deeply, but we will cherish our times together, and with every breath remaining will wish that she is at peace, now and forever.