Where Are They Now?

Sheila Thomas has had many jobs that historically have been done mostly by men; construction, concrete work, building pipelines, and more. Along the way, she has worked hard to empower the women and girls in her life to feel safe, strong, and capable of anything. “When it comes to woman power, I got it,” she said.

Thomas left Dublin High School in her senior year and earned her GED in 1988. She had hoped to go into the army, but the recruiters turned her away because of her scoliosis. She spent the next couple of years working odd jobs and living with her father and stepmother in Slaton, TX, and then in 1990 her oldest daughter was born.

In 1992, Thomas moved back to Dublin, where she took a job as a lunchroom lady. “My mom and my aunt both were both lunchroom ladies, so I kind of just jumped into it,” she said. I was working at the elementary lunchroom for seven years.”

Thomas loved the job, especially getting to see the kids every day. “That was awesome,” she said. “Sometimes kids come in and they’d be sad, and I was always ready to build up their self esteem. I still see some of my kids today and they’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, you were my favorite lunchroom lady.’”

After seven years at the school, Thomas worked a few part-time jobs that let her have more time with her daughters. She worked for Coyote Designs in Stephenville for a while doing inspections and packing, then worked for Bigg’s convenience store in Dublin.

In 2008, Thomas was diagnosed with breast cancer. In between her treatments, she held down a job making pallets for Kohler and 3M. She beat cancer after months of treatment, and got another job working construction for another six years.

Around the same time she was diagnosed with cancer, Thomas also started working part time in elderly care, taking care of David Schneider of Gustine. David was a retired professor who had worked at NASA and Lockheed in the past.

“That was one job that I was very fortunate to have had,” she said. “As much as I did for him, he also did for me. He was my mentor, my meant-to-be friend and teacher, and a very very important person in my life.”

Schneider passed away after Thomas had been working with him for 12 years. “I was the one to hold his hand when he passed away,” she said. “I still miss him, and I know for sure he is with me often. He still gives me signs saying, ‘I’m here.’”

Thomas’ empathetic nature made her a natural at taking care of people, and over the last few years she has found herself doing it again and again. Recently she moved back to Dublin to help out one of her childhood friends, after her mother passed away. “I was so glad to come home,” she said.

In addition to all her caregiving positions, Thomas also raised her three daughters as a single mom. Her oldest daughter, Jessica, is 30 now, Valora is 27, and Morgan is 24. Thomas also has five grandchildren. “I thrived as a mom, and I’m so proud of how I raised my girls to grow up to take care of themselves,” she said.

On an average day these days, Thomas splits her time between odd jobs. She helps take care of her friend’s garden, does some construction work here and there on the house, works part time on a farm and does some cleaning work.

She spends as much time as she can with her partner, Roman Saldivar. “I’ve had a crush on him since I was 17 years old,” she said. “We just recently started seeing each other, and now we’ve moved in together. I’m so happy, and it feels like there’s nothing we can do wrong right now.”

Thomas also enjoys visiting her family, especially her aunt Glenda Sorrells, who also lives in Dublin. “She and [my uncle Wayne] were like my other parents,” she said.

Thomas is battling cancer again, her third round, but hopes to beat it soon. Her health has been a constant challenge in her life, along with the challenges of being a single mom and helping her daughters through hard times of their own.

When facing these trials, Thomas often turns to one of her favorite quotes: “When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”

She also finds inspiration in treating people well and making them feel secure and good — but also knowing when to talk away. To future Dublin graduates, Thomas offers the following advice: “Live your best life, have fun, and don’t ever let your dreams fade.”

Editor’s Note: This column chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen.com.