Margaret "Annis" Thomas

SACKETS HARBOR, NY - Margaret “Annis” Thomas (91) of Bayard Street passed away peacefully, surrounded in love by family and friends on Friday afternoon, March 7, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital in Syracuse. 

Annis was born in Watertown on October 20, 1933, the only daughter of Asa and Laura (Walker) Petrie.  After her high school graduation, she went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Plattsburgh State University.  She met her husband, Keith C. Thomas during that time and they married on June 19, 1955, at the Asbury United Methodist Church and celebrated 59 years of marriage before his death in 2014.  Annis and Keith taught in the Palmyra-Macedon School District from 1955-1956.  The couple returned to Watertown and Annis taught Home Economics at Carthage Central Jr.-Sr. High before deciding to choose a different career.  The couple moved to Black River in 1959 where they resided for 19 years, moving to their summer cottage in Chaumont, NY.  She loved her summers near the water, even though she could barely swim. She made sure her children learned to swim at an early age! The couple eventually built their “dream” home on North Shore Road on Pillar Point, Dexter NY. Annis also worked for the Department of Social Services in Child Welfare, retiring as Supervisor in 1989. During the “retirement years, the couple spent 20 years wintering in Zephyr Hills, Florida where they enjoyed attending plays and enjoying music with life-long friends.  The couple sold their winter retreat in 2007 and returned to live in Northern NY at her current residence in Sackets Harbor, NY

Annis loved to travel, and she was able to travel with her husband to several key destinations: Bermuda, Hawaii and Alaska.  Later she also took the “Touring the Canadian Rockies” adventure sponsored by Mel Busler and his wife and The Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal Cruise led by Road Scholar. Annis was active in the local Seniors group and a member of Red Hat.  In addition, Annis enjoyed her flowers, watching the birds outside her patio door and playing family games such as croquet, badminton, “Sequence,” Phase 10 & Pass the Pigs, both of which she won the week before she passed!

In addition to her parents and her husband, Keith, Annis is predeceased by a son-in-law Michael Chrisman.

Annis is survived by her four children:  Cathryn Chrisman of Sackets Harbor, NY, Julie Sharlow of Chaumont, NY, Amy Thomas of Mesa, AZ and Randy (Penny) Thomas of Patchogue, NY; 8 grandchildren: Kevin Chrisman of North Carolina, Daniel Sharlow of Rochester, NY, Jenna Fox of Rochester, NY, Sarah Pasko of Chicago, IL, Jeremy Thomas of Long Island, NY, Jonah Thomas of Jacksonville, FL and Joshua and Jordan Thomas, both of Long Island, NY; 7 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be at Reed and Benoit Funeral Home on State Street, Watertown on Thursday, March 13, from 1-3 pm. A memorial service will follow at 3pm.  A Celebration of Life Reception will be held at 5 pm in Sackets Harbor at St. Andrew Catholic Church. Condolences may also be left online at www.reedbenoit.com.

Memorial donations in her memory may be made to the Sackets Harbor Volunteer Fire Company at 112 North Broad Street, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685 or Hospice of Jefferson County at 1398 Gotham St., Watertown, NY 13601.