TUCSON, Ariz. – Joyce M. Thomas, formerly of Orono, passed away Oct. 15, 2010, in Tucson, Ariz., after a brief illness. She was born March 19, 1925, the daughter of Cecil F. Cook and Helen (Kaulfuss) Cook of Jersey City, N.J. She graduated from high school in Bath and from the University of Maine in 1944. Joyce married classmate Harry S. Thomas of Mechanic Falls in 1945. After several years living in New Jersey, Joyce and her family moved to Maine in 1956. She spent her years in Orono as a homemaker, raising her family. She later was employed at the University of Maine as a research assistant. In 1967 when her late husband, Harry S. Thomas, retired from the University of Maine, they began traveling throughout the country, settling in Rollinsville, Colo., in 1969, and moving to Tucson in 1988, where Joyce resided until her recent death. She is survived by her children, Nancy Fritz and husband, Gregory, of Warren, R.I., George Thomas and wife, Peggy, of Hermon and Charles Thomas and wife, Gwen Tatera, of Appleton, Wis.; 12 grandchildren, Michael Thomas and partner, Amie Parker, of Lewiston, Michelle Witmer and husband, Steve, of Hermon, Jonathan Thomas and fiancee, Nicole Lewis, of New York City, Cara Fritz and husband, Brendan Kane, of Albany, Ore., Peter Fritz of New York City, Julia Fritz of Sunnyside, N.Y., Ryan Thomas of Oshkosh, Wis., Darcy Thomas of Oshkosh, Wis., Mindy Tatera of Goodyear, Ariz., Jamie Lynn Tatera and husband, Deepak Sankpal, of Milwaukee, Christie Tatera of Lewiston, Idaho, and Rick Tatera of Appleton, Wis.; her sister-in-law, Priscilla Rines and husband, Bernard; nephew, Dale Rines and wife, Betty, and son, Nathan; nephew, Stephen Rines, all of Gorham; and four great-grandchildren. Joyce was a woman of great kindness and generosity. She will be greatly missed. At her request, no services were held. Funeral arrangements were handled by Evergreen Mortuary, Tucson, Ariz.
JOYCE M. THOMAS
