Shirley Thomas

She was the beloved wife of 72 years to Nevin E. Thomas, her lifelong sweetheart. She is survived by her loving children, Debbie Payne (Mike) of Ligonier, PA; Cindy Graham of Ligonier, PA; Jeff Thomas (Linda) of Stafford, VA; and Tim Thomas (Glen Beasley) of Gatlinburg, TN; nine cherished grandchildren; and eight beloved great-grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by her daughter, Denise McQuillin, whose husband, John McQuillin, resides in Pinehurst, NC; her son-in-law, Greg Graham; her parents, William Schmidt and Esther (Havener) Schmidt; and her brothers, Ralph Schmidt (Bernice) and Raymond Schmidt (Norma).

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Shirley’s greatest joy was found in the company of her family. As the mother of five successful children, she was immensely proud of each of them and engrained in them a strong sense of hard work, ingenuity, resourcefulness, and purpose. She was a proud advocate and cheerleader for her grandchildren, and she loved attending their concerts, sporting events, and other special occasions.

Shirley had a remarkable spirit of determination and creativity. While her young husband traveled over the road hauling tractor-trailer loads, Shirley drew up the floor plan for their first family home and rallied the community to help her build it. That resourceful, capable, and determined nature became one of her defining qualities and one of the lasting examples she gave to her family.

Faith and music were central to Shirley’s life. She and Nevin were regular churchgoers and joined church choirs in every place they lived. While living in Ligonier, PA, and attending the Church of the Brethren, Shirley played the organ for many church weddings and regularly played the piano at home while family and friends gathered around to sing. Later, in Crossville, TN, Nevin and Shirley attended Crossville First Methodist Church, where they sang in the choir together. In addition to church music, Shirley enjoyed bluegrass and country music, and she once sang in a mixed barbershop-style quartet. She also loved square dancing with Nevin and proudly wore her blue and white square dance outfit as they participated in many events together.

For many years, Shirley worked as a successful sales representative for Dutchmaid clothing, earning awards and trips for her accomplishments. She had a natural gift for connecting with people and enjoyed learning about their lives. Shirley wanted everyone to

find success in life and was always willing to offer advice, encouragement, and support to help them get there.

Over the course of their life together, Shirley and Nevin made homes in Ligonier, PA, where they raised their family; Knoxville, TN; San Diego, CA; Bakersfield, CA; and China, before retiring to Crossville, TN. During their years in Knoxville, Shirley embraced the community and enjoyed participating in local women’s club activities, including the Dogwood Arts Festival, where she shared her love of people, creativity, and community life. Their life together was filled with travel, adventure, music, faith, and friendship. They traveled across the country, attended RV rallies, and enjoyed meeting new people wherever they went. Shirley and Nevin also enjoyed riding motorcycles and scooters together, and as they aged, they continued to find joy in bicycling around their community.

Shirley and Nevin also spent a year in China while Nevin was there for work. Shirley was in awe of the new culture and embraced the experience with curiosity and appreciation. She especially cherished her custom silk embroidered outfit from her time there and was deeply touched by the kindness of the people she met.

In her free time, Shirley enjoyed playing cards, including pinochle with other couples, seeing shows at her local playhouse, attending RV rallies, listening to music, singing, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. Her warmth, determination, faith, and generous spirit touched many lives.

In her later years, Shirley lived with Dementia and Parkinson’s diseases. She was lovingly cared for by her devoted husband, Nevin, and by her son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Linda Thomas, of Stafford, VA. The family is also deeply grateful to the many selfless caregivers at Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg for the kindness, compassion, and care they gave to Shirley. Though illness changed many parts of her life, it never diminished the legacy she built through her faith, her marriage, her children, her grandchildren, and the countless people she encouraged along the way.

A service for Shirley will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Home, 186 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, VA 22554. Visitation of the urn will begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by the service at 4:00 p.m., led by Pastor Emily Moore-Diamond of Ebenezer Church in Stafford, VA.

While flowers are much appreciated, the family also asks that you consider making a donation to the Help Hope Live Catastrophic Illness Fund established for Shirley’s great-grandchildren, Lilly and Lucy Thomas. Donations may be made at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/22833/