Jane Veazey Thomas, 81, born in Murray, Kentucky, and longtime resident of Laramie Wyoming, passed away July 25, 2021. Jane was born on January 28, 1940, to Evelyn Ruth and Thomas Veazey. She graduated from Murray State University, located in Murray, KY, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology and later a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Wyoming (UW). She was a lecturer and supervised the analytical laboratory in the Department of Mineral Engineering for the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) for UW from 1972 to 1977.
Jane met her husband-to-be, Ken Thomas, in the chemistry laboratory they shared at UW in 1969. They married a year later in August 1970. Jane and Ken raised two well-educated UW Alumni, athletic, amazing daughters (Rebecca and Pamela). And Jane and Ken recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Together they enjoyed traveling, going to plays presented by the UW theatre department, spending time with both sides of their family, sitting in their backyard with a nice Kentucky Bourbonnow and again, and spendingtheir life together.
Jane was the owner of Wyoming Analytical Laboratories, Inc. where she was president, analytical chemist, and chief bottle washer since 1977. Currently her laboratories are in Laramie and Rock Springs, Wyoming.Over the past forty years, Jane operated labs throughout Wyoming and Colorado. Jane was a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) where she actively participated in the Energy and Fuels, Small Chemical Business, and Senior Chemist Divisions and the local Wyoming ACS Section. Jane was a member of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute, traveling throughout the West, while dedicating herself to the promotion of coal through education. Jane was an active member and contributor to ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials). Jane was a Laramie Community member of Zonta International, Toastmasters International, a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and various other foundations, committees, and Murray State and University of Wyoming Alumni groups.
Jane is survived by her husband Dr. Kenneth P. Thomas, daughter Pamela Thomas Kennedy (Jeff), two grandchildren Keeley Rebecca Smith and Dillon T. Smith (Paige), son-in-law Prof Doug Cuthbertson, sister Gerry Veazey Beattie (Ernest), brother Thomas G. Veazey, brother-in-law Russell L. Thomas, nephews Todd and Scott (Kim) Thomas, nieces Jane A. Sulser (Keith) and Jennifer Thomas Demmerle, grandnephew Donovan K. Sulser and grandniece Kaleigh Jane Sulser.She was preceded in death by her parents, and her daughter Rebecca Thomas Cuthbertson and nephewBradley Thomas.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 6, at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 7th at St. Matthews Episcopal Church followed by burial at Greenhill Cemetery.
In memory of Jane, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
My condolences to Jane's family and loved ones. I always enjoyed the time I was able to spend with her at the RMCMI conventions. I was so intrigued by her path in life and I looked to her as another professional woman in the industry to learn from. Thank you for imparting such wisdom. You will be truly missed.
I met Jane around 1982. Jane was my first friend at the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute and we spent a lot of time together attending seminars and social functions at the Convention. There were only a handful of women members at that time and she was always so helpful about my career and so kind. Anyone who knew Jane will miss her. My sincere and deepest condolences to Ken and her family.
So sorry to hear about Jane. I always enjoyed working with her company when I was at Spring Creek and always loved running in to her at the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute meetings. Great mind and personality. She will be missed.
Pam and family. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. Wherever you are your mom is in your heart. Emulate her by living with a legacy of love and a joyful spirit. May love surround you and bring peace. Love you Pam. Jane and Bill Vernatter
Pam and family, Sorry for the loss of your mother. I always remember her going out of her way to be kind. I know my dad had a lot of respect for and enjoyed working with her. Our daughter Erica also enjoyed working for her in the lab.
RIP Jane. I you will be greatly missed by those you worked with over the years. When I first joined ASTM in 1978 , Jane was already well established in the trenches. She showed me where and where not to dig.
Pam and family, I am so sorry for you loss.
Jane gave me my first job in the coal testing laboratory back in 1988. I learned so much working for her and brought that knowledge with me throughout my 30+ year career. I was so pleased to catch up with Jane at ASTM meetings a couple of years ago. RIP Condolences to the family.
Pam, Sorry to hear about your mom. I always remember her with a smile on her face and lots of laughter.
As an undergraduate geology student at the University of Wyoming in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I enrolled in a Mineral Engineering course on Coal Lab Analysis taught by Jane. Even though all of the other students in the course were PhD students, Jane let me stay in, and it was one of the most memorable courses in my undergraduate and later graduate student tenure. This was the time the large coal mines in the Powder River Basin were opening, so I think we were analyzing samples fresh from the exploratory borings. Jane brought the value of the thick Powder River Basin coal seams to life through analytical chemistry. The students learned why the Powder River Basin coals were of great value through analysis of BTU, ash, among other analyses. And she made each student run the individual analyses on their own using her lab equipment, risky given how students are all thumbs in a laboratory. My favorite Jane lab story was her telling of getting bouffant hair style back in the day, only to have it burned off when she opened one of the furnaces during an analysis. Thanks, Jane, you always made us students work hard, but you also made us laugh hard, too.
Jane, You passed to glory at the time I would have learnt more from your ENRICHED KNOWLEDGE. Your kindness, integrity, ability to be of help to others and warm leadership will never be forgotten. Good night, rest in perfect peace.
Whether she knew it or not, Jane was a major force (similar to a hurricane) in the direction of my career. From the times before she started her own labs, through my years of working for and with her, to my later career moves, Jane was a sincere mentor. I will miss her.
When I was the young age of 16 years old I began working at Wyoming Analytical Labs. I washed glassware and used to wish I had a cool title so I'd tell people when they asked that I supervised and maintained the appearance of scientific apparatus. Have always loved that Jane called herself the chief bottle washer :) I'd sort of known Jane Thomas way back then because my dad was working there for a long while. Through continuing to work at WAL on and off for the last 28 years I began to really know and learn so much from Jane. She taught me how to think analytically, she's shown me how to be strong in a male dominated field, she's stood her ground when she was unhappy and she makes you feel important and smart through everything. She's trusted me to run a temporary lab in Trinidad, Colorado. She has taught me so much over the years it's immeasurable, really. She has selflessly helped my entire family to raise our confidence in ourselves and rise above our station in life. I will ALWAYS be eternally grateful for knowing her. I am so saddened and in shock that she is really gone. She was a feisty force to be reckoned with and has been one of the biggest role models of my entire life. My deepest sympathies are with her entire family and everyone who's known her. Rest in peace Jane. Thank you so much for everything.
Jane and I worked together a number of times at the Senior Chemists Committee booth at the American Chemical Society national meetings. Jane was always a delight, an eager and enthusiastic co-volunteer, and a great companion during our time together encouraging other ACS members to join the Senior Chemists in our activities. Our times together were always a highlight of these meetings, and I will miss her. I know I speak for all of us from the ACS Senior Chemists Committee when I convey our condolences to Jane's family and friends.
My condolences to Ken and family. Jane was a delightful lady with a beautiful smile. She will be dearly missed. Rest in peace Jane.
My condolences to Jane's family and friends. I met Jane at the Senior Chemists committee. She was a valued member of our committee and she will be missed.
Dear Family and Friends of Jane Thomas Jane was a valued member of the Senior Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society and we grieve her passing. May you be consoled to know how much she made a difference in so many of the service-oriented activities that she participated in as an active member of the committee and of the ACS. Mary Virginia Orna, ACS Fellow and SCC Associate Member
My thoughts and prayers are with Jane's family. I met Jane through the Senior Chemists Committee (SCC) of the ACS. I remember one wonderful afternoon I spent with her at the ACS SCC booth she organized. She had an uplifting spirit.
Family and friends of Jane Thomas are in my thoughts and prayers. It was my honor to serve with her on the ACS Senior Chemists Committee. She was gracious, kind, and loyal to ACS. She is greatly missed.
Jane was a valued colleague on the ACS Senior Chemist Committee. We will miss her friendly conversations and her contributions to the success of the committee. My sympathies to her friends and family.
My condolences to Jane's family and friends. Jane and I were colleagues serving together as members of the ACS Senior Chemists Committee. We will miss her smile, conversations, friendship, and her many contributions to the work of this committee.