Juanita Rey ‘Nita’ Stone

Juanita Rey “Nita” Stone, a Nahcotta, Wash., native and long-time resident of the Long Beach Peninsula, died peacefully May 25 at age 71 after a brief battle with leukemia. She died at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Ore., with her loved ones present.

She was born Sept. 29, 1933, in Sandusky, Ohio, to Raymond Stone and Lillian Griggs.

She came West with her family as a small child, settling in Nahcotta in 1941. She grew up there and attended school at Ocean Park Elementary and Ilwaco High School, graduating in 1951.

She married Lonnie Thomas in 1957, and they raised four daughters while living in both California and Alaska.

She lived on Bainbridge Island in the early 1980s and then returned to live on the peninsula in 1985.

She was known for her artistic talents, particularly in the area of drum making, for which she often taught classes, and for her exquisite basket and beadwork.

She was a board member for Friends of the Libraries and headed the semi-annual book sale to raise needed funds.

She was also active in the Willapa Writer’s Circle. Most recently she was known throughout the community as the local co-coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteers Program, or RSVP.

She enjoyed reading and often had several books going at the same time, always learning and searching for new ideas while enjoying a good mystery or biography.

She enjoyed good friends and good food, which she shared with her family and friends and in the community.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law Lisa Thomas and Eric Johnson of Bainbridge Island, Lorrie Thomas-Dossett and Kevin Dossett of Sonoma, Calif., Cindy Thomas and Pete Petersen of Anchorage, Alaska, and Cheri Thomas and Trish Herrman of Sutton, Alaska; grandchildren Eli Thomas-Browne and Sam Thomas-Johnson of Bainbridge Island, and Garrett Thomas-Dossett of California; her sister, Sandra Tellvik, of Ocean Park, Wash.; brother, Ron Stone of Juneau, Alaska; and former husband, Lonnie Thomas, of Seattle, who remained her good friend.

A family graveside gathering will be held at the Ocean Park Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be held from 2-5 p.m. June 11 at the Oysterville Schoolhouse.