Aurelia "Ricki" D. Thomas

After a proud and inspired life, Aurelia “Ricki” Thomas passed peacefully in the hands of her family on the morning of August 21st, 2026, at the age of 92. To all who knew her, Auralia’s unrivaled sense of style and desire to express herself through the arts was unmistakable. Her tenacious ambition to create and share her paintings with the world was matched only by her love for sharing a few lighthearted gripes over a cup of coffee with her many friends and loved ones.

Born in 1934 to Helen and Paul Faur, Aurelia and her brothers Paul and Pete were raised in St. Joe Missouri until the family established a new home in South Omaha in 1946. Aurelia was married in 1952, and her first child Lauretta was born in 1953 followed by David, Michael, Amy, Tish, and Brian in 1963. The family moved to Lincoln in 1970 where they found life suitable for such a large and robust family. Auralia’s children all built great lives living in Lincoln and other large and small cities throughout the Midwest.

With sass and no apology, Auralia found pursuing her dreams as an artist a deep source of her inner strength. In the mid 1970’s into the mid 1980’s, Aurelia performed with “The One-Eyed Jacks” and “Ezekeil’s Wheel” where she sung the blues and played the piano for audiences in lounges across the Midwest. Gifted in art as much as much as music, she took a monumental step in her career by attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln to study painting. By the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Aurelia was a monthly mainstay at Noyes and Metro Art Galleries for First Fridays.

Even into her final days, Aurelia’s magnetic presence and enduring love for her painting brought inspiration to those she encountered. As a mentor to many people, young and old, she taught painting and drawing lessons and at her home gallery on South 48th Street throughout her years as an octogenarian. One of her many joys as an artist was going to Door County Wisconsin where she continued to hone her skills in many lakeside towns with her children and grandchildren.

Aurelia was a source of great laughter and joy to those who loved her and once the jokes started rolling, the laughter was hard to stop. She had a gift for having people help her, could never eat enough shrimp baskets, and wasn't afraid to speak her truth whether people wanted to hear it or not. Aurelia lived her life in her full authentic colorful self, never let go of her dreams, and her lasting impact was all the beauty and light she brought into the lives of so many people.

She is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Helen Faur, and her brother Paul (Pat) Faur. She is survived by her brother Pete Faur; her six children Lauretta, David (Carrie), Michael (Mary), Amy (Scott), Tish (James), and Brian (Cheri); eighteen grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren. She was deeply loved and will be dearly missed.