Gregory Arthur Thayer, Sr.
October 3, 1954 ~ May 31, 2017 (age 62) 62 Years OldShare using:
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.