Berneta Mae Thomas

Berneta Mae Skinner Thomas, 95, of Kanas City, Missouri, passed away December 11, 2024 surrounded by those who loved her. The Visitation will be 9:00 AM, Monday, December 16, 2024, with a funeral service to follow at 10:00 AM at Floral Hills Funeral Home (7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64133). Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association and Easterseals.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, John R. Thomas, her parents Preston and Goldie Skinner, and sister Mavadene Tilly.

Survivors include her daughter, Sharolyn, and her husband Robert Harms of Pleasant Hill, MO; daughter Debi and her husband Larry Carter of Lee’s Summit, MO; a son John R. II, and his wife Kathleen Thomas, of Kansas City, MO; a son Preston Thomas, of Oakland, CA; grandchildren Wendy Nyhus, Misty Terrell, Nicholas Harms, Cara Caudill, Justin Thomas, Holly Thomas, and Eva Thomas; great-grandchildren Carter, Aiden, & Sukanya Nyhus; Mia, Hayden, & Jaxx Caudill, Kaisley & Kendyn Thomas, and Charlee and Sam Terrell.

Berneta May Skinner Thomas was born April 1, 1929, in Eagleville, MO. She grew up and lived a simple life on the farm. Berneta often lovingly shared childhood memories with her family. As a young girl, she had many dogs and cats that she adored. When she was 11 years old, she was given a diary where she wrote down her day-to-day experiences. These included feeding the chickens and selling the eggs, popping popcorn at school to celebrate a classmate’s birthday, and how sad she was to miss school when a blizzard created such high snow drifts that she was unable to walk to school. Berneta later became Eagleville High School’s valedictorian in her senior year. As a young adult she worked as a bookkeeper at Townsend in Bethany, MO. From there she worked at Bendix as a secretary, and then for the Atomic Energy Commission as a secretary. Berneta married John in 1959. She found her greatest joy and fulfillment in raising 4 children. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Raytown for many years and loved playing the piano for the adults “special needs” ministry. Berneta preferred instant tea and liked to “hide” bags of potato chips in the empty dishwasher. Birthdays with the grandchildren were typically celebrated over a bowl of salad and fresh breadsticks at The Olive Garden. Berneta loved chatting with her kids. She had an uncanny ability to call her kids and their family just as they were sitting down to eat dinner, knowing they would all be there. If you stopped by Berneta’s I the afternoon, you’d find her at the piano. She was a boogie-woogie enthusiast. Berneta “played by ear” and could improvise just about any melody.

Her family and friends will always cherish the memories we made with Berneta and carry her spirit with us. Thank you, Berneta, for the joy you brought into our lives. The joy we felt as you would walk us to the door after a visit, waving to us as we departed. We wave to you now, knowing we’ll meet again. Rest in peace in the presence of Jesus.