Maitland Gast Thomas, fondly known as Mickey, died on July 4, 2016 in St. Joseph, Michigan in the home where she was raised. Mickey, the daughter of Albert and Maitland Piper Gast was born on July 16, 1925 in Benton Harbor.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, July 19 at noon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 Lane Drive, St. Joseph, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan. Friends wishing to send a condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1943, attended Michigan State College and earned a B.A. from St. Mary’s College, South Bend. She entered the work world as a reporter with the Herald Press where she worked until her marriage in 1948.
Mickey and William A. Thomas married on August 20, 1948 commencing a long, wonderfully happy union. Family was central to both as they raised seven children, sending them into the world to do good works. Mickey and Bill complemented their child rearing with travel and sailing up and down the Michigan coastline and the North Channel with dear friends, Liz and Dean Hudnutt and Fred and Cindy Grootendorst.
She was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in St. Joseph where she worshipped and strengthened her faith. She belonged to the St. Joseph River Yacht Club where she was lovingly embraced by the next generation. She actively participated in numerous community activities, including the Berrien County Bicentennial Commission, Civic Benefit, Cotillion, Indian Hills Garden Club and various bridge clubs. Mickey persevered through breast cancer, leukemia, and multiple orthopedic issues steeling herself for the journey to 90 (one tough old bird).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents, her sister, Florence Gast and her brother, George Gast. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Karl and Jane Gast; three sons — Christopher Thomas (Kristin Hosbein) of Okemos, Peter (Martha) Thomas of Chicago and Tommy (Lisa)Thomas of Boulder; four daughters — Martha (Dennis) Chaman of Chicago, Catherine Thomas of St. Joseph, Anne (Nick) Coogan of Newport, R.I., and Rebekah (Tracy) Whitsell of Grand Rapids; and 19 grandchildren — Lisa, Brendan, Lea, Jason, Matthew, Jane, Megan, Zachary, Bits, Shawn, Sarah, Sam, David, Tommy, Daniel, Molly, Jacob, Natalie and Emma Sayge; three great grandchildren – Peyton, Aiden, Keegan, and her four-legged companion, Charlie.
Our matriarch touched many lives and will be dearly missed.