Nikita Marie Thomas

Nikita Marie Thomas was born on October 4th, 1960, in Dallas, Texas. She was the second oldest of three girls and two boys to the union of Patty and J.W. Thomas. She also had other siblings Anthony, Jimmy, Michelle, Tammy, Jessica, Charkethia, and Diana.

During her early years, Nikita, aka Kita, attended S.H. Thompson Elementary in Dallas, Texas, before moving to Portland, Oregon, in 1971 with her parents and 4 siblings, Trina, Marilyn, J.W. Jr and Darryl. After arriving in Portland, she attended Boise Elliot Elementary, Portsmouth Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.

Kita moved to Oakland, California, in 1990 with her two youngest daughters, Lashawndra and Mercedes. While there, she married Antonio Gainey and returned back to Portland, Oregon, after his passing in 2010.

Kita's smile was as big as the world and bright as the sun. You knew Kita was coming from her loud voice that you could hear from blocks away.  She loved to dance and sing, even though she couldn't sing at all. She kept a smile on her face even during her pain. You would not see her without a smile.

Kita aka "Girlfriend" the name she called her daughters and they called her. Her pride and joy were her four girls DeQuisha, Sanita, Lashawndra and Mercedes, nine grandkids Keevontye, Keondre, Michael, Tayshawn, Kailah, Damonee, Braylon, Aria and Kinleigh and three great grands Kahmari, Kaiicen and Naelani.

She loved going over to "Pretty Keya's house" spending time with family, especially during the holidays. The one thing she would never forget is your birthday. She might mispronounce or make up a name, but she will always be the first to call, singing Happy Birthday with the worst singing voice ever.

Her church home is King's Temple and she loved attending church on Sunday's and going out to eat with her best friend, "that's my best friend" her mother Patty and her sister Lynn, who the family nicknamed the "Golden Girls."

Kita was loved by many and everyone's favorite. She was the best mother, daughter, sister, Granny/Namaw, Auntie and friend, and she loved everyone just the same.

Kita was preceded in death by her father, J.W. Thomas.

Left to cherish her memory, her mother Patty Thomas; siblings: Trina, Marilyn, J.W. Jr, Darryl, Anthony, Jimmy, Michelle, Tammy, Jessica, Charkethia, and Diana; Her daughters: DeQuisha (Bobby), Sanita, Lashawndra, Mercedes; Grandchildren:Keevontye, Keondre, Michael, Tayshawn, Kailah, Damonee, Braylon, Aria, and Kinleigh; Great grands: Kahmari, Kaiicen and Naelani. And a host of nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nikita Marie Thomas, please visit our floral store.