Leigh Ann Thomas

Leigh was born May 29, 1962, at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana to Forest and Gloria Nation. Leigh’s father, Forest served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. Their family lived at various Air Force Bases across the U.S. during his years of service. Leigh graduated high school from Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Nebraska in 1980. Leigh attended classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as well as Bellevue College and Metropolitan Community College studying Business.

She married Kevin Thomas on October 29, 1983 in Bellevue, Nebraska. They began their family in Omaha before moving to Oakland, Nebraska in 1992. They raised three girls; Brandi (Johnson), Ashley (Biskup) and Kalie (Holtz) on their farm in Oakland; where they bred and showed Paint and Quarter Horses for many years. She enjoyed sharing her love of horses with her girls and earned various awards both locally and nationally in Western Pleasure. She was also an avid dog lover and always had a dog at her side. She had dogs of all sizes from her Chihuahua, Ethel to the Great Dane, Chief she shared with her daughter, Ashley. She loved them all. Her most recent companion was her French Bulldog, Hazel aka Piggy Wig.

Leigh had a love for camping and enjoyed spending time at their spot on the Missouri River. She loved spending time with family and friends around the campfire having a good drink, good food and singing the night away!

Leigh enjoyed her work and the people she worked with at the State of Nebraska and the Nebraska Supreme Court for over 20 years. She was the go-to for help with the State’s computer systems.

Leigh was preceded in death by her parents; Forest & Gloria Nation, her step mother, Mary Nation; her brother, Jay Nation; her grandparents, Ples & Cleo Brown and John & Viola Nation; her uncle, Timothy Brown; her cousin, Corey Brown; and her father- and mother-in-law, Warner & Corrine Thomas.

She is survived by her loving family including her husband, Kevin Thomas of Oakland, NE; daughter and son-in-law, Brandi & Ed Johnson of Scribner, NE; daughter and son-in-law, Ashley & Christopher Biskup of Fremont, NE; daughter and son-in-law, Kalie & Jeremy Holtz of Fremont, NE; her grandchildren Brooklyn Thomas, Kenton Ruppert, Jozelyn Ruppert and Jax Holtz; her aunt, Karla Brown of Durant, OK; brother-in-law, Gary Thomas of Oakland, NE; her sister-in-law, Margaret Nation of Spring View, TX; step sister and her husband, Kim & Philip Hickman of Sioux City, IA; step sister and her husband, Kelly Vinopal & Chris Hofer of Crofton, MD; step brother and his wife, Craig & Debra Vinopal of Beresford, SD; numerous nieces & nephews and many many friends.