George W. "Buddy" Thomson

1943 - 2026

George William "Buddy" Thomson passed away at his home on March 25th surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with Parkinsons disease.

He was born on April 29th, 1943, the son of the late George and Marie Dunbar Thomson. Buddy grew up on High Lawn Farm in Lee where he developed his love of animals and the outdoors. He attended St. Mary's school in Lee and was a 1961 graduate of Lee High School. Upon graduation he worked as a milk man for High Lawn Farm before beginning his career at the former Kimberly-Clark paper mill in Lee, where he served as Manager of Material Handling and Receiving before retiring in 2003. He enlisted in the United States Army National Guard in 1964, serving during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged on March 1, 1970.

On February 13, 1965, Buddy married the love of his life, Barbara A. DiGrigoli and spent the next 61 wonderful years together raising their family.

Buddy loved the outdoors and enjoyed working in the yard, kayaking with his wife, fishing and hunting, and family golf outings. He especially looked forward to annual deer week with his close friends T-Bone, Pete, Paul, Bobby, and Chink. The crew never shot many deer, but nobody had more fun, with a lifetime of stories (all true) and memories. He was a fan of the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Cardinals.

Above all Buddy cherished his time with his family, especially his grandchildren, his great grandson Everett, his kindred spirit who shared his heart, his many nieces and nephews, his 3 beautiful sisters Carolyn, Lillian, and Noreen, summer vacations with our cousins the Ditomasso's, traveling with the "six pack": his beloved wife Barbara, in laws Peter and Pat DiGrigoli and Michael and Liz DiGrigoli. He enjoyed watching his sons, nephews, and grandsons play football in high school and college. He particularly loved spending time with his granddaughters Gina and his "Peanut", Elyse, becoming the official cookie taster and financier of their shopping trips.

Buddy lived his life grounded in faith, kindness, and compassion and was a steadfast believer in the Lord. We take faith that he is now at peace in God's presence.

Besides his wife Barbara Thomson of Lee, he is survived by his children: Jim "Chet" Thomson of Chicopee, Lisa Kelley and her husband John, of Lee, Keith Thomson and his wife Jennifer of Lee, grandchildren: Jake (Brittany), Matty (Emma), Gabriel (Devyn), Nicholas, Gina (Alain), William, and Elyse (Matt), great grandchildren: Everett, soon to arrive Kennedy, and a third great grandchild to arrive this fall, three sisters: Carolyn Hitchcock, Lillian Paul and Noreen Guachione, in-laws: Michael and Liz DiGrigoli and Peter and Pat DiGrigoli as well as many nieces and nephews.

The funeral for Mr. George W. "Buddy" Thomson will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 11:00am at the Open Door Church in Lee. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-7:00pm at Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240. In lieu of flowers, donations in Buddy's memory may be made to the The Parkinson's Foundation in care of the funeral home.

To share memories and stories please visit rochefuneralhome.com