Kaylene Shea Thomas

Kaylene was born in Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland to Grady and Kerrie (Braddock) Thomas on October 22nd, 1995. At an early age Kaylene, although very shy, was able to connect with many people. Her kind, genuine spirit enabled her to create bonds with anyone, very often the people who needed someone the most. In elementary school, Kaylene would discover many of her lifelong passions such as softball, music and movies. Many Saturdays were spent in the batter’s box with her mother down the third baseline, her father behind home plate and her sister on deck. Kaylene, a first baseman, was known for having her teammates back especially when a bad throw was involved. After digging a ball out of the dirt, you would see Kaylene point to her teammate and say “I got you!”. Through the years she became a valued member of recreational teams at Severn Athletic Club and Elvaton, lettered at Old Mill and found the deeper meaning of softball with her GORC Lady Wildcats travel team. Her adoration for the sport could be seen not only from the field but also in the stands. Kaylene enjoyed following her favorite players like Taran Alvelo (University of Washington), Jackie Traina (University of Alabama) and Kortney Thomas (Louisburg College, Winston-Salem State University).

The love for music was practically in her blood. She and her father, Grady, would spend hours listening to their favorite songs on YouTube, creating their own karaoke night. They would discuss the meaning behind each lyric and the purpose of every melody. Kaylene’s playlist contained music from all decades going back to the 1940s and would include artists such as Otis Redding, James Taylor, Garth Brooks, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Bob Segar, Def Leppard, Adele, Cardi B and many more. With the combination of music preference and love of history and culture, Kaylene earned the title of an “old soul”. Not only could she appreciate music but also a calling to perform. She began her journey plucking the violin in the orchestra but soon discovered her true craft of the alto saxophone. For years Kaylene fined tuned her skills and earned a place in the high school marching band which she would participate in for all four years of high school.

When it came to movies, there was no universe left unexplored. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Marvel Universe could often be heard coming from Kaylene’s television for hours on end. A love for science fiction cultivated a desire to explore the world as her mother and father did during their military service. At the top of the list was Okinawa, Japan, Worms, Germany and Rome, Italy. Though big dreams of traveling, there was no place that Kaylene would rather be than with her family. She was known for posting family photos and keeping distant family members and dear family friends close by updating them on important events, proud moments and even just to say hello.

Holidays, birthdays or any given weekend were meant to be shared with loved ones. Kaylene would never miss the opportunity to be sitting at a table playing spades, outside throwing cornhole, cheering indescribably loud at a Ravens game or preparing a holiday meal with Nestor playing in the background surrounded by her parents, sister, aunt and uncle, and grandparents. Much like her Aunt Joey, Kaylene believed that there was no better way to show someone they are loved than by providing a homemade meal. Quite often, Kaylene would be found standing in a kitchen, draped in a zebra-print apron, meticulously deciding seasonings and incorporating as much love as she could into her cooking.

As the years went on, Kaylene would use her passions to forge new relationships with friends and colleagues throughout her life. During these years, she would begin what some would call the beginning of her transformation into the woman she was always meant to be. Like many, Kaylene struggled with self-love and finding a balance between uncovering the person she wanted to become and the person she was. Through faith and love, Kaylene overcame obstacles both known and unknown but all challenging. She would use this new-found strength to encourage others to not only live in one’s own skin but to love that skin and know that it was enough. That it deserved respect and kindness. She would find these qualities in her boyfriend David. As she revealed, she had found a love that made her look forward to just waking up on Monday morning. Together, David and Kaylene would enjoy activities like picnics at the park and various cooking show marathons like Alton Brown’s Good Eats and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.

Faith and love could be found again in Kaylene’s life after the passing of cherished and beloved family members. She would turn to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminding her there is a time for everything and while we may not always get to decide that time, one must have faith in God’s plan. By valuing Friends, Family and Faith above all else, her family saw her breakthrough from a shy, timorous caterpillar to a passionate, strong and beautiful butterfly now with perpetual light forever shining upon her in glory.

Kaylene is survived by her parents Grady and Kerrie Thomas of Severn, Maryland; sister Kortney Thomas of Graham, North Carolina; grandparents, Tom and Charlene Braddock of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Edna Mae Bush of Chattanooga, Tennessee, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, many close friends and colleagues and of course her four-legged nieces Kallie and Shelby.

Kaylene was preceded in death by her beloved aunt Joey, uncle Maurice, cousin Kelly Fenimore, grandfather Raymond Thomas, paternal and maternal great grandparents.

Kaylene Shea Thomas, 25, of Graham, North Carolina, passed away on October 5, 2021 at the Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, NC. Visitation will be held at Dugan Kramer Chapel from 4 to 6 PM on Thursday, October 14, 2021 with A Vigil Service beginning at 6 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff at 10:30 AM on Friday, October 15, 2021 with Father Mike Wetovick officiating. The service will be livestreamed at the Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel and Crematory facebook page. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Charity of choice will be LifeWire (whose mission is to end domestic violence and create a world where every person lives in a safe environment safe from oppression with the opportunity to thrive) or donor's charity of choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dugankramer.com for the Thomas family.