DOVER-FOXCROFT and BOCA RATON, Fla. – Gladys H. Thomas, 86, died peacefully March 25, 2011, at her home in Boca Raton, Fla. She was born May 5, 1925, to Irving and Edith (Littlefield) Emerson of East Sangerville.
Gladys married Charles H. Thomas and together they had 10 children. Gladys was a dedicated wife and mother, always putting family first. In addition to raising nine children, she was employed by Guilford Industries for many years, later working for Hathaway Shirt Co. until she and her family moved to Boca Raton, Fla., in 1968. She was employed by Henz Interiors of Deerfield Beach as an interior design consultant from 1970 until she retired in 1983. She enjoyed her retirement by absorbing herself in cooking, reading, quilting and spending her summers in Maine visiting her family. She will be sadly missed by the many lives she touched during her lifetime.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband, Charles; two of her sons, Gerald and Paul; a daughter, Sheila; and two of her grandchildren, Adam and Kimberly Thomas. She is survived by seven children, Stuart of Boca Raton, Fla., David and his wife, Joann, of Dover-Foxcroft, Ronald and his wife, Karen, of Franklin, James and his companion, Robert, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Cathie and her husband, Greg Goodine, of Atkinson, Cindy of Lakeworth, Fla., and Vickie and her husband, Daniel Parsons, of Boca Raton, Fla. Gladys was nana to 21 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three siblings, Arthur Emerson of Brewer, Nora Turner of Dover-Foxcroft and John Emerson of Boca Raton, Fla.; numerous nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Lary Funeral Home, 62 Summer St., Dover-Foxcroft. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at United Baptist Church, 146 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft. Burial will be in the family lot at Rural Grove Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics Maine Inc., 125 John Roberts Road, Suite 19, South Portland, ME 04106-3295 or at www.specialolympics maine.org. Messages of condolence and memories may be expressed at
www.laryfuneralhome.com.