Nancy Ellen Stikeleather Thomas, beloved mother, wife, musician and community volunteer continued her journey in God's love on December 6, 2023, in Cedar Rapids. She was 91. A public Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. Arriving in Mount Vernon in 1967 with her husband, Rev. Dr. Richard Thomas, and three 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 new attention to the local community need for childcare. Nancy Ellen Stikeleather Thomas was born in Statesville, NC, on 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 with honors 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 on 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, Arkansas, and the university community at Princeton, New Jersey. Nancy had a flair for sewing and created much of her own clothing for decades. A lover of reading, 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 the same year. Memorial gifts may be made to the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church Thomas Organ Fund. The family thanks Cottage Grove Place for its many years of care for her and Richard. Remembrances may be sent to the family via email to janthomas13@gmail.com or US mail co/ Jan Thomas, PO Box 703, Gambier, OH 43022.