BUCKSPORT and TUCSON, Ariz. – Tamara Kay Thurston, 47, passed away Jan. 6, 2006, in Tucson, Ariz. She was born Sept. 24, 1958, in Tripoli, Libya and attended elementary schools in Texas, Virginia and Japan. Tamara began high school in Seoul, Korea and graduated from Bucksport High School in 1976. She earned a bachelors, Phi Beta Kappa and masters degree from the University of Maine in 1988 and 1991. Tamara earned a PhD in English literature from the University of New Mexico in 1997. She taught writing and literature courses at the University of Maine, University of New Mexico, Navajo Community College, Ramapo College and Pima Community College. She was a gifted teacher who touched the lives of her students in many unique ways. She is survived by her life partner of 15 years, Brenda Kay Manuelito of Tucson, Ariz.; her son, Bobby Carmichael and his wife, Elizabeth, of Arlington, Va.; parents, Robert and Betty Thurston of Penobscot; three sisters and their families, Tracy and Scott Billings of Ellsworth, Laura Tenley Mossing and Darrell Porter of Swanville, Tiffany and David Webster of Bucksport; paternal grandmother, Bertha Higgins of Orono; former husband, Rob Carmichael of Bucksport; and seven special nieces and nephews, Brendan Carrier, Christy Carrier, Kaitlyn Billings, Leah Billings, Peyton Webster, Lucy Webster and Will Mossing. Tamara loved the outdoors and spent her summers kayaking and camping in Maine and backpacking and hiking in the southwest, especially in the canyons and wilderness areas of southern Utah. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Franklin Street United Methodist Church, with Pastor Peter Remick, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hancock County Hospice, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 156, Blue Hill, ME 04614.
TAMARA KAY THURSTON
