Gregory Arthur Thayer, Sr.

Gregory Arthur Thayer, Sr., born in Belfast, ME, passed away on May 31, 2017

peacefully at home in Spring Hill. FL after a prolonged illness. He leaves behind his

beloved and heartbroken wife of 21/22 years, Lynne (Proudfoot) Thayer, his children:

Gregory Thayer, Jr. (Andrea); Nicole Moss- RIP (Henry); Jeanine Davis (Micah);

Benjamin Thayer; Alise Arcorola (Matthew); Melissa Thayer (Brad); Jessica Carufel-

Strawcutter (Dean); Justine Storey (Jerry); and shared daughters by proxy, Renee Carufel

- RIP and Kimberly Roberts (Kyle), and her daughter, Alexis McKenzie both of whom he

thought of as his own. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Taylor, Chase, Cody;

Kolyn; Austin; Ashton; Isabella; Nokomis; Cheyenna; Micah, Jr., Miciah; Gabriella; Sam;

Emma; Aaron; Sarinah; Dominic; Antonio; Adrianna; Ashley; Jacob; Lee; Zoe and

Jaidyn. He is survived by his precious mother, Marilyn Lenthers (Alan) and father,

Russell W. Thayer – RIP; his maternal grandparents, Lloyd, Sr. and Sara Clark and

paternal grandparents Charles M. and Nellie Thayer; as well as his siblings: Charles

(Sonny) Thayer (Joanne); Merrily Stevenson (Erland); Carol Carson (Charlie); Nellie

Ferris (Richard); Terry Thayer; Patricia Bovee (Tim); Cheryl Gale (Bob); Rusty Thayer-

RIP; Paul Thayer (Karren); Wayne Thayer (Vikki); Gary Thayer (Terri); George Wescott,

cousin/brother (Katie) all of whom he shared many happy and loving memories as well

as his many special aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, too numerous to name,

but who he also loved dearly. Special mention to his in-laws, William and Alice

Cockerill (may they RIP) and Katherine (Kitty) and Ronald Proudfoot, may he RIP, his

sister-in-laws Denise Sherry – RIP (Bob); Kristie McKinnon (Keith); brother-in-laws

Ronald Proudfoot, William Cockerill (Arlene) and Robert Proudfoot (Amalia) and their

children; as well as special friends who were with him, especially throughout his illness,

Robert (Bobby) and Donna O’Donnell and daughter, Shannon with his heartfelt thanks; as

well as David and Michele Carufel and his special niece, Sarah Bruno.

 

Greg served in the US Army and excelled in wrestling. While growing up and living in

Maine, he worked on the family farm; ran a logging machine and drove a logging truck.

being a fabulous singer, he had his own band (having won numerous singing contests)

and sang at many venues. While all of his children (Greg, Jr., Ben and Melissa) who also

inherited his gift of singing, it is his son Greg Jr., who is following his footsteps as a

professional singer and carpenter.

 

After he and his then wife, Cindy Sykes, separated, he met Debbie Benner. They had a long-

term relationship wherein he helped to raise her two children, Jessie and Misty. He also

formed a fond relationship with Debbie’s aunt Adrene Winchenbach, who affectionately

referred to him as “Blue Eyes”, as well as her other family members. They then moved to

Florida where he went to work for Commercial Carrier Corp. as a local and long-haul

trucker, first in Crystal River and later in Brooksville. During his tenure there he won 1st

place in Florida’s state-wide trucking rodeos four times in the regional competitions. He

entered the national competition, where he then placed in the top hundred out of

thousands.

 

Greg met his wife, Lynne, at CCC while she was working as a secretary and they married

in 1996 with over 200 in attendance. He sang Keeper of the Stars as she walked down

the aisle. Thereafter, they started G&L Long Haul Corp., working under Robert and

Donna O’Donnell, who already owned a long-haul trucking business known as Odyssey

Logistics. They successfully ran their company for ten years before Greg became too ill

To continue. Throughout this time he continued his passion for singing, playing many

venues throughout the area. His talented voice could bring tears to ones eyes with the

emotion he put into his songs. He continued with his love of building furniture and other

wood-working projects. When he wasn’t working, he loved to shoot pool, go fishing,

restore old cars and repairing motors on cars and big rigs. His biggest passion was

providing for and loving his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved spending time

with his family and many friends and children’s friends, who laughingly referred to Greg

and Lynne as “Daddy Dukes and Momma Dukes”, entertaining them all with his

wonderful sense of humor and frequent pranks. He will be loved and missed by all.

 

 

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