Tonya Annette Thomas

Tonya Annette Thomas, professional finder of bargains, expert in barbeque chicken, ruthless pool player, avid collector of converse shoes, and self-proclaimed matriarch of four children “who turned out okay,” passed away on January 31st, 2022. Her early arrival in the afterlife, a shock to all – given she was late for everything. EVEN her own funeral.

Tonya was born on March 21st, 1970, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As her first cry rang out to the world, her parents rejoiced, and the devil whispered “Oh no. She’s up!” Eventually, she would move to Plainview, Texas in the house owned by her grandparents who lived next door. At the age of thirteen, Austin, Texas would become her home.As a child, Tonya was funny, sweet, and daring – traits she retained through her life. You could often find her stealing cookies from her grandparents, who would ask “Who’s in the cookie jar?” – to which, she’d reply “It’s not me!” without hesitation. Telling her grandfather to “get out of her yard” brought her immense joy, though she knew the property was his. Though she was an adventurous child, she had more than her fair share of stiches. Most notably, the time she and her tricycle careened downhill = with nothing to stop her but the fence below. Tonya and her sister, Tessa, still loved the now two-wheeled tricycle.

Tonya loved any child that could be returned to their parents, and those whom she could not return she loved even more. Pink Floyd, The Beasties Boys and Bone Thugs N’ Harmony would play every Saturday while the house was cleaned. She excelled at growing elephant ears, laughing when it was inappropriate, turning a dime into a dollar, and setting the expectation for birthday parties so high, all others are dim in comparison. She did not excel at suffering fools gladly, holding her tongue, or returning a car unblemished. Her favorite hobbies, some lifelong, included painting, crafting jewelry, releasing sky lanterns during a burn ban, procuring interesting, cute, and terrifying objects, rearranging furniture, coloring her hair, making collect calls, and gambling. In no particular order. Tonya loved frappe’s, cerveza and Purple Rita’s. Wedding cookies were a staple on her kitchen counter, although she rarely attended weddings. She did not enjoy green junk, rather her favorite dessert was a cake whose name rhymes with “Shores Delight.”

Tonya graced this earth with a son, three daughters and several garden gnomes.

Like all love stories, it began one night on 6th Street in Austin, TX. Tonya, after seeing the ‘86 Suzuki 750 parked in the street, said “That’s a bad*** bike you’ve got there. Mind if I go for a ride?” The owner of the Suzuki, a man named Charles, who was 5 years her senior, obliged – leading to their marriage in 1990. Tonya was 20 years old, when approximately 9 months later they welcomed a daughter, Natalie; whose birth may or may not be linked to aforementioned wedding. Luckily, with the convenience of formula, she happily celebrated her 21st birthday a few months later. In 1992, Charles and Tonya welcomed their second daughter, Tiffany, - whose birth is in no way related to aforementioned party. Like so many good things, the marriage ended; regardless, Charles and Tonya remained co-parents.

Eventually, a man named Cory would come into her life. And, like all love stories, they found themselves leaving for Las Vegas to be married. They would return to Austin where in 1996, Tonya gave birth to a third daughter, Malarie – the only child she had received an epidural for, probably due to the fact it was a C-Section. And finally, in 1998 she gave birth to a son, Johnny.

She encouraged fun and silliness in every aspect of life – on several occasions, dumping buckets of water from the second floor onto the unlucky family members below. As her children grew older, she nourished their deep appreciation for dark humor – which was, in their opinion, one of the best qualities she bestowed upon them. She was a voice of reason when her children needed good advice, and a shoulder to cry one if everything else failed. Above all, her children were her proudest accomplishment. Tonya’s role as a grandparent, however, is what made her the happiest. In her eyes, they could do no wrong – regardless of how many phones were dropped in water, or the sheer number of Smirnoff’s they would knock over (even if it were her last one – in her eyes, a crime against humanity). It was apparent to all, but especially her children, that she loved no one more than her grandkids.

Her memory will live on through her children: Natalie, Tiffany, Malarie, and Johnny. Her grandchildren: Lyric, Ledger, Jeremiah, Luna, Levi, Kai, and Aria. Her parents; Johnny and Sharon Howell. Her siblings; Tessa, Shanna, and Jessica. Nieces and Nephews; Megan, Coby, Haley, and Kelsey. And countless other family members and friends, who we have chosen not to name in fear of forgetting someone. She is preceded in death by her brother, Johnny Thomas.