Gail (Thomas) Starkey, known for the many years she worked at the family garden and give shot The Green Thumb, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 12, at the Life Care Center in Plymouth. She was 82.
Born in Brockton on Sept. 22, 1943, to the late Alfred G. and Audrey (Snowdale) Ledo, she grew up in North Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth High School. She married Joseph Thomas III, and during his time serving in the United States Air Force, the couple lived in several places before eventually returning to Plymouth to raise their family.
She worked many years at The Green Thumb, and later as the greenhouse manager at Agway in Plymouth and Sandwich. She volunteered for decades with the Girl Scouts, the 4-H Club and the CCD program at St. Bonaventure Church. She was also active with the Daughters of the American Revolution and the International Joseph Disease Foundation. She also participated in numerous historical and family heritage organizations, including researching her own family history.
Her family and friends remember her for her kindness, generosity, curiosity, her love of gardening, and her care for many animals including horses, ponies, goats, rabbits, cats, dogs – even a pair of orphaned baby skunks.
She is survived by her daughter Wendy Taylor Lupa and her husband, Jeff, of Farmington, New Mexico; her late son-in-law Keith Taylor; her daughter Jill Hennessy and her husband, Jeff, of Millstone Township, New Jersey; son Matthew Thomas and his wife, Irene, of Plymouth; grandchildren Jeffrey, Thomas, Katy, Dan, Emily, Matthew Jr., and Stephen; and great-grandchildren Jack, Lenna, Trey, and Isla; her sister Suzanne Malaguti and her husband, David, of Plymouth; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 at the Cartmell-Davis Funeral Home, 619 State Rd. Plymouth, followed by prayers at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Gail’s memory to Cranberry Hospice or Manomet Conservation Sciences.
For more info and to sign the online guestbook please visit www.cartmelldavis.com.