Peggy Chatterton Thomas

Peggy Chatterton Thomas passed peacefully Sunday night, September 3 at her home in Las Vegas. She was 97.

She was born August 23,1926 in Preston, Idaho, raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and spent most of her life in Las Vegas, Nevada and Sun Valley, Idaho.

Peggy Thomas graduated from the University of Utah in 1947 and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She married E. Parry Thomas shortly after graduation and moved to Las Vegas in 1954 when Parry Thomas took control of the Bank of Las Vegas which later became Valley Bank of Nevada and finally, Bank of America Nevada.

While supporting her husband's career she raised five children: Peter Thomas, an Attorney and Managing Partner of the Thomas and Mack Co. (wife Nancy P. Thomas), Roger Thomas the emeritus director of interior design for Wynn Resorts (husband Arthur Libera), Steven Thomas an orthopedic surgeon (wife Karen P. Thomas) Tom Thomas, an attorney and also a Managing Partner with Thomas and Mack Co. (wife Leslie G. Thomas) and daughter Jane Thomas (husband Peter Sturdivant) an accomplished equestrian and textile artist.

She gave her children not only a warm and loving home and superior educations, but also the great gift of encouragement to do what they loved and to follow their passion and their dreams.

Peggy Thomas was an avid outdoors woman, an accomplished skier and equestrian as well as a devoted hiker and tennis player.

She participated enthusiastically in all of her favorite sports well into her late 80s.

With her husband, Parry Thomas, she developed River Grove Farm in Hailey Idaho, home of Brentina, a warm blooded Hanoverian horse that led the US Olympic team to a Bronze medal in Dressage at Athens in 2004 and was the first American horse to win the Dressage World Cup Finals. The Hanoverian horses from River Grove Farm were consistently in the top level of dressage performers in US and in international competitions.

In addition to her five children, Peggy Thomas was always grateful for her 14 Grandchildren and 21 Great Grandchildren.

She was a founding member of the Junior League of Las Vegas, one of the founders of the Smith Center For The Performing Arts and a lifetime supporter of the academic programs at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She was active in many local charities including the United Way, the Anti-Defamation League and Nevada Dance Theater.

Peggy Thomas was more comfortable in the natural beauty of the wild woodlands than in the many glittering ballrooms and galas she attended in her life. She will be laid to rest in her beloved Sun Valley Idaho, surrounded by the wilderness she loved.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to the Nature Conservancy by calling 800-628-6860.