Greenfield, MA — Gary L. Thomas, 82, of Greenfield, peacefully passed away on the evening of August 15, 2022, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Gary, also known as Gip, was born and raised in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, attending local schools and graduating from Foxcroft Academy high school in 1959. He was a naturally gifted athlete, lettering all four years in football, baseball, and basketball, in addition to being President of Student Council his senior year. He was offered a football scholarship to the University of Maine but instead joined the Army and served his country. It was there, working as a medic, he discovered his passion for the healthcare field.
After his honorable discharge, Gary moved to Northampton where he worked as an orderly at Northampton State Hospital. While working full time, he attended Greenfield Community College nursing program, becoming a Registered Nurse. His nursing career at that hospital lasted thirty-four years ending as a supervisor when the hospital closed, garnering many awards and recognition along the way. Gary faced many challenges during his lifetime and always faced them with tenacity, integrity, hard work and a positive outlook. He was known to many as a very friendly and wise man with great one liners and original quotes
While stationed in England, Gary married Sylvia Ryder, the mother of his son, Steven. That marriage ended after returning to the States. Gary married Diane Graham, the mother of his two daughters, in 1967. Sadly, she died in 1983 after a long battle with ALS. In 1987 Gary married Ann Wyman and acquired her four children to add to his son and two daughters, which became a great blended family. After retiring in 1996, Gary and Ann enjoyed thirty-five years together with amazing travel in their RV'S in the United States and Canada as well as many trips to Europe and the Islands. They were Snowbirds living part-time in Naples, Florida, for twenty-four years making wonderful friends along the way.
Beside his beloved wife, Ann, Gary leaves his daughters, Zina Thomas Churchill and Sherry Thomas Lane and her husband, Kyle, Ann's children David Wyman and his partner Ginny, Jon Wyman and his wife Jill, Lori Pope and her husband Mike, and Susan Dillon and her husband Tom. Gary is also survived by his brother, Wayne Emerson and his wife, Sue, and his sister, Sondra Whitworth as well as many nieces and nephews. Gary loved and knew everyone's birthday by heart including his fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Predeceasing Gary are his parents, Charles and Leona Thomas, his second Father Edward Butler, his son, Steven Thomas, and his bother Raymond Thomas.
A short memorial graveside service will be held on October 1 at 11:00am at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Association, or Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
Gary, also known as Gip, was born and raised in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, attending local schools and graduating from Foxcroft Academy high school in 1959. He was a naturally gifted athlete, lettering all four years in football, baseball, and basketball, in addition to being President of Student Council his senior year. He was offered a football scholarship to the University of Maine but instead joined the Army and served his country. It was there, working as a medic, he discovered his passion for the healthcare field.
After his honorable discharge, Gary moved to Northampton where he worked as an orderly at Northampton State Hospital. While working full time, he attended Greenfield Community College nursing program, becoming a Registered Nurse. His nursing career at that hospital lasted thirty-four years ending as a supervisor when the hospital closed, garnering many awards and recognition along the way. Gary faced many challenges during his lifetime and always faced them with tenacity, integrity, hard work and a positive outlook. He was known to many as a very friendly and wise man with great one liners and original quotes
While stationed in England, Gary married Sylvia Ryder, the mother of his son, Steven. That marriage ended after returning to the States. Gary married Diane Graham, the mother of his two daughters, in 1967. Sadly, she died in 1983 after a long battle with ALS. In 1987 Gary married Ann Wyman and acquired her four children to add to his son and two daughters, which became a great blended family. After retiring in 1996, Gary and Ann enjoyed thirty-five years together with amazing travel in their RV'S in the United States and Canada as well as many trips to Europe and the Islands. They were Snowbirds living part-time in Naples, Florida, for twenty-four years making wonderful friends along the way.
Beside his beloved wife, Ann, Gary leaves his daughters, Zina Thomas Churchill and Sherry Thomas Lane and her husband, Kyle, Ann's children David Wyman and his partner Ginny, Jon Wyman and his wife Jill, Lori Pope and her husband Mike, and Susan Dillon and her husband Tom. Gary is also survived by his brother, Wayne Emerson and his wife, Sue, and his sister, Sondra Whitworth as well as many nieces and nephews. Gary loved and knew everyone's birthday by heart including his fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Predeceasing Gary are his parents, Charles and Leona Thomas, his second Father Edward Butler, his son, Steven Thomas, and his bother Raymond Thomas.
A short memorial graveside service will be held on October 1 at 11:00am at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Association, or Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
Greenfield, MA — Gary L. Thomas, 82, of Greenfield, peacefully passed away on the evening of August 15, 2022, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Gary, also known as Gip, was born and raised in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, attending local schools and graduating from Foxcroft Academy high school in 1959. He was a naturally gifted athlete, lettering all four years in football, baseball, and basketball, in addition to being President of Student Council his senior year. He was offered a football scholarship to the University of Maine but instead joined the Army and served his country. It was there, working as a medic, he discovered his passion for the healthcare field.
After his honorable discharge, Gary moved to Northampton where he worked as an orderly at Northampton State Hospital. While working full time, he attended Greenfield Community College nursing program, becoming a Registered Nurse. His nursing career at that hospital lasted thirty-four years ending as a supervisor when the hospital closed, garnering many awards and recognition along the way. Gary faced many challenges during his lifetime and always faced them with tenacity, integrity, hard work and a positive outlook. He was known to many as a very friendly and wise man with great one liners and original quotes
While stationed in England, Gary married Sylvia Ryder, the mother of his son, Steven. That marriage ended after returning to the States. Gary married Diane Graham, the mother of his two daughters, in 1967. Sadly, she died in 1983 after a long battle with ALS. In 1987 Gary married Ann Wyman and acquired her four children to add to his son and two daughters, which became a great blended family. After retiring in 1996, Gary and Ann enjoyed thirty-five years together with amazing travel in their RV'S in the United States and Canada as well as many trips to Europe and the Islands. They were Snowbirds living part-time in Naples, Florida, for twenty-four years making wonderful friends along the way.
Beside his beloved wife, Ann, Gary leaves his daughters, Zina Thomas Churchill and Sherry Thomas Lane and her husband, Kyle, Ann's children David Wyman and his partner Ginny, Jon Wyman and his wife Jill, Lori Pope and her husband Mike, and Susan Dillon and her husband Tom. Gary is also survived by his brother, Wayne Emerson and his wife, Sue, and his sister, Sondra Whitworth as well as many nieces and nephews. Gary loved and knew everyone's birthday by heart including his fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Predeceasing Gary are his parents, Charles and Leona Thomas, his second Father Edward Butler, his son, Steven Thomas, and his bother Raymond Thomas.
A short memorial graveside service will be held on October 1 at 11:00am at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Association, or Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
Gary, also known as Gip, was born and raised in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, attending local schools and graduating from Foxcroft Academy high school in 1959. He was a naturally gifted athlete, lettering all four years in football, baseball, and basketball, in addition to being President of Student Council his senior year. He was offered a football scholarship to the University of Maine but instead joined the Army and served his country. It was there, working as a medic, he discovered his passion for the healthcare field.
After his honorable discharge, Gary moved to Northampton where he worked as an orderly at Northampton State Hospital. While working full time, he attended Greenfield Community College nursing program, becoming a Registered Nurse. His nursing career at that hospital lasted thirty-four years ending as a supervisor when the hospital closed, garnering many awards and recognition along the way. Gary faced many challenges during his lifetime and always faced them with tenacity, integrity, hard work and a positive outlook. He was known to many as a very friendly and wise man with great one liners and original quotes
While stationed in England, Gary married Sylvia Ryder, the mother of his son, Steven. That marriage ended after returning to the States. Gary married Diane Graham, the mother of his two daughters, in 1967. Sadly, she died in 1983 after a long battle with ALS. In 1987 Gary married Ann Wyman and acquired her four children to add to his son and two daughters, which became a great blended family. After retiring in 1996, Gary and Ann enjoyed thirty-five years together with amazing travel in their RV'S in the United States and Canada as well as many trips to Europe and the Islands. They were Snowbirds living part-time in Naples, Florida, for twenty-four years making wonderful friends along the way.
Beside his beloved wife, Ann, Gary leaves his daughters, Zina Thomas Churchill and Sherry Thomas Lane and her husband, Kyle, Ann's children David Wyman and his partner Ginny, Jon Wyman and his wife Jill, Lori Pope and her husband Mike, and Susan Dillon and her husband Tom. Gary is also survived by his brother, Wayne Emerson and his wife, Sue, and his sister, Sondra Whitworth as well as many nieces and nephews. Gary loved and knew everyone's birthday by heart including his fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Predeceasing Gary are his parents, Charles and Leona Thomas, his second Father Edward Butler, his son, Steven Thomas, and his bother Raymond Thomas.
A short memorial graveside service will be held on October 1 at 11:00am at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Association, or Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
Arrangements are under the direction of Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield. For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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