April 16, 1940 – July 19, 2026

Barbara DuFresne Thomas passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, July 19th, 2026. She was 86 years old. She will be missed by many.

Barbara was born in San Francisco, California on April 16th, 1940, to parents Louis and Dorothy DuFresne. She spent her formative years in Menlo Park and graduated from Menlo Atherton High School in 1958. It was in high school where she met her beloved husband, Edward Thomas. They were married for 63 years. He preceded her in death, in November 2021.

As a young adult, she was a full-time mother to Debra and Royce Thomas. Through the early years she involved herself in volunteer organizations such as PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) and Beyond War while doing personal growth work with Creative Initiative Foundation. In her 50’s she started a professional career doing public relations with Physicians for Social Responsibility and Trimble Navigation and later expanded into human resources with March First and Niehaus, Ryan, Wong.

Barbara’s heart passion was local volunteering, especially to help young women. Along with community volunteering she found joy in trail riding her favorite horse, Jake. Raising rescue dogs was also so important to her.

“Barb” found her greatest gifts in giving to others after she and Ed moved to Nevada County. She served as Board President for Friendship Club (it later became Bright Futures for Youth). She was also interested in arts, culture and music and served as Board President for Center for the Arts. She actively supported Sierra Harvest, In Concert Sierra, Music in The Mountains, League of Women Voters, Savvy Women, her beloved local PEO sisters, and any new organization trying to make a difference in the community. Barbara and Ed were presented the Mayor’s Award for Distinguished and Outstanding Service to the City of Grass Valley in 2020 by former Mayor Lisa Swarthout.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Louise DuFresne (Reno, NV); daughter, Debbie (Grass Valley, CA); son Royce and daughter in law, Jean (Reno, NV); granddaughters, Justine Longyear (Reno, NV) and Kelsey Thomas (New York, NY); great grandson, Emerson Longyear (Reno NV).

A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall.

If considering a memorial donation, the following nonprofits are in Grass Valley: Bright Futures for Youth, Center for the Arts, Sierra Harvest, Music in the Mountains, and In Concert Sierra.