Wanda Jean Lightfoot Thomas

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend to many, passed away March 2, 2019, after a short battle with the flu.

Mother was born in Miami, OK in 1927, with her mother Ruby Lightfoot passing away four years later due to complications from surgery. Mother’s local family there got her a Grey Hound bus ticket to Umatilla, OR, issued as Express Baggage (cheaper than coach) with a $10 dollar bill pinned to her blouse. The rumor must have preceded her as when she got to Boise a reporter from the Boise Idahoan met her at the bus station for an interview. The headline next day read “Four year old girl travels through Boise as Express”. Yes, the story was below the fold but it was on the front page. It was reported that the bus driver took young Jean home to spend the night with him and his wife in Boise and when she arrived in Umatilla had a $20 dollar bill pinned to her blouse. These small acts of kindness would influence and foretell the many successes she would achieve throughout her life.

Jean was raised briefly by her grandmother Viola Lightfoot in Umatilla and then moved to Walla Walla to be raised by her aunt and uncle Madge (Lightfoot) and Loren Davis who became her adoptive parents and graduating from Walla Walla High School in 1945. After high school she obtained employment at Pacific Telephone & Telegraph on Alder St as a phone operator. A dance at the Whitman Hotel led to a chance meeting with her future husband, J.W. (Mike) Thomas who had recently returned home from the war and after the ensuing romance, were married a short time later after eloping over to Lewiston.

Raising four children meant her kitchen was always a whirlwind of activity and no one ever left her dining room table hungry. Jean and Mike were fortunate enough to be able to travel the world including ports of call such as Israel, Fiji, Caracas, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia and many cruises to Mexico along with a few mad dashes to Reno, Vegas and Pearl Harbor where Mike had spent most of the war.

Mother was a lifelong quilter as well as excelling in knitting, crocheting and sewing, winning several awards at the Puyallup State Fair Quilting Competition. She and Mike were long time members of the Central Christian Church, with Jean singing in the choir for many years showcasing her stunningly beautiful soprano voice, the Walla Walla Country Club, the Elks Club and mother was a frequent volunteer at the Walla Walla Christian Aid Center.

Mother was preceded in death by her grandmother, Viola Lightfoot; mother, Ruby Lightfoot; Aunt Ina (Herman Lightfoot), Aunt Madge, Aunt Beulah and Aunt Eulah (the Twins); and her husband of 64 years, J.W. (Mike) Thomas; brothers and sisters-in-law, Don (Wilma) and C.J. (Rod and Edna) Thomas. Mother is survived by her first cousin, Maxine Amen of Walla Walla; daughters, Mary Sandberg (Dave) of Yakima, Linda Thomas of Ashland, OR, Janet Nelsen (Carl) of Walla Walla; and son, Michael Thomas of Prescott; nephews, Gary, Joe, Dwight and Jay Thomas; nieces, Donna, Celia, Margaret and Rita Thomas; grandchildren,  James Ledford (Kim) of Pinehurst, N.C., Melanie Baker (Brett) of Seattle, James Irby (Amy) of Helena MT; great-grandchildren, Haley, Audrey and Joe Ledford of Pinehurst N.C., James and Mary Lynn Irby of Helena MT; along with numerous second cousins and so many friends.

All donations in mother Jean’s name should be sent to the Walla Walla Christian Aid Center. The Thomas family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, caregivers and staff at Providence St. Mary’s, the Walla Walla Clinic as well as the excellent care from Wheatland Village. There will be a private family service at a later date.