Barbara Ann Thomas

Barbara Ann (Merrill) Thomas, 77, of Napa, formerly of Aloha, Oregon, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Christmas Day following a lengthy illness. Born May 8, 1946, in Vallejo, California, Barbara was the adopted daughter of the late John Ernest and Rose Linda Brehmer Merrill. Barbara was raised in Vallejo, graduating from Hogan Senior High in 1964. She maintained friendships with many of her classmates through the years.In 1965, Barbara married Eddie Kemp, with whom they share a daughter, Rhonda. In 1980, she met Frank Thomas and they married in 1982. Barbara spent over thirty years in the hospitality industry, mostly as a server in restaurants and occasionally as a bartender. She also spent five years as secretary for The Banyan Tree in Oregon, a child and adolescent residential care provider. Barbara will be remembered as a warm hearted, loving lady who adopted most everyone she met as family. Barbara was also a passionate animal lover, and she had many beloved pets over the years.Barbara so loved her adopted parents and brothers, but she yearned to know her birth family. After years of research, she discovered that her birth mother, Elizabeth, passed away, but she was able to find and contact a number of her birth siblings. She developed a close relationship with them, and even went to several of their family reunions.Barbara is survived by her daughter Rhonda Kemp, Rhonda's husband Len Bickford, and Rhonda's children, Mariah Martinez and her daughter Briar Rose, Carter Martinez and his partner Nickoli Marcus, and Len's children, Chelsee Bunch, her husband Nathan, and Trevor Bickford and his girlfriend Krystle. Also surviving are Frank's sons, Frank Thomas Jr, Robert, and Jason, and Jason's son, Wyatt Thomas and Wyatt's fianc‚ Jessica. Also surviving are Barbara's brother Clifford Merrill, his wife Barbara, and their children, Jessica Merrill and husband Nik, and Chris Merrill and his fianc‚ Stephanie; and brother Jack Merrill, his wife Sherri, and their children Kelsie Thompkins, her husband Andrew and Johnathan Walsh and his wife Leilani. Barbara's surviving birth family includes sisters Lydia, Joan, Beth, Cathy, and twins, sister Mignonette, and brother Richard.A celebration of life will be held 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at Treadway & Wigger Funeral Chapel, 2383 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa. Private committal will be on a later date, joining her late husband Frank in the Willamette National Cemetery Portland, OregonMemorials can be made to the ASPCA, any organization of aid to animals or to the charity of the donor's choice. Friends may relay condolences online at treadwaywigger.com.