Mary Black Thomas, 66, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at Kingston Health and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her loving family and friends.  She was born on July, 9, 1956 in Fort Wayne to Rudolph and Wilda Black.  She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in zoology and went on to receive a teaching certificate from IPFW and taught chemistry at Carroll High School along with gerontology courses and hospitality/casino management courses at IPFW.  In 1989, Mary was introduced to the love of her life, Jon Thomas, by her mom via the local laundromat and they were married on December 27, 1990. Jon and Mary relocated to California and Mary graduated law school from Santa Clara University. She focused her practice on family law and estate law.  In 2002 Mary and Jon returned to Fort Wayne to care for her mother. As a result, she became an active volunteer for A Day Away Adult Day Care providing legal services where she made life- long friends with the nurses who later became her caregivers.  

Mary was honored to officiate multiple wedding ceremonies for her friends and family. She was a dog mom to 7 different dogs during her lifetime.  She also enjoyed playing slot machines at casinos as well as traveling to all 50 states.   Jon and Mary loved going on cruises where they visited Australia, Alaska, Canada and England.   She was a member of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society where she enjoyed learning about the universe, planets, stars and the moon. She was also a board member for TekVenture where she enjoyed the science, art and education of “making things”.  

Mary is survived by many cousins and other family members.  She was preceded in death by her husband and parents. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to TekVenture,  PO Box 11134, Fort Wayne, IN. 46856.  Attn: Jeannette Jaquish.    There will be a memorial service at a later date.