Shirley L. Thomson

WINSLOW -- Shirley L. (Brann) Thomson, 84, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at her daughter's home in Shawmut with daughters and granddaughters at her side.

Shirley was born in Mercer on March 30, 1925, the daughter of Dean and Margaret (Stockford) Brann.

Shirley loved being around family and friends and enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting, summers at her Pattees Pond camp in Winslow, and winters at her home in Zephyrhills, Fla.

During her working career she worked at Augusta Mental Health Institute and at several local nursing homes. She was a life member of the Winslow Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8835 Auxiliary and held the office of president for several years. She also worked as a bartender at the Winslow Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Home.

Shirley is survived by her three sons, James "Deannie" (Mary Ann) of Oakland, David (Lisa) of Sidney, and Bob of Arkansas; her four daughters, Patricia (Stephen) Gerald of Oakland, Jessie (Ed) Rowe of Clinton, Peg (Scott) Gurney of Shawmut and Judy (Mike) Achorn of Benton. She had 10 grandchildren, Kathy Gray, Audra Paulette, Ed Rowe, Tricia Gagnon, Eric Thomson, Becky Yahnel, Desanne Wells, Kathy Pettengill, Jennifer Beck, and Kimberly Gurney; great-grandchildren Alison and Jimmy Gray, Valerie Paulette, Heath Rowe, Sierra and Macie Gagnon, Ashley and Christian Yahnel, Andrew and Danielle Wells, Blake and Adriana Pettengill and Hannah McLaughlin; her three brothers, Alton Brann of Cornville, Sanborn and Marvin Brann of Largo, Fla.; her four sisters, Kathleen Sanford of Dexter, Maxine Bates of Corinna, Mildred MacArthur of Bingham and Lettie Brann of Athens; her sisters-in-law, Peg Brooks of Hopkinton, N.H. and Edna Lacroix of Fairfield; several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Shirley had a special cousin, Guy (Shirley) Brann of Farmington whom she referred to as her "little brother."

Shirley was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, James (Bud) Thomson on Jan. 2, 2000. She had been lost without him and we are sure that they are together again.

Our family would like to thank the staff at Oak Grove, especially Becky, Carrie, Rachael, Bunny, Debbie, Robin, Jodi, Gloria, Dianne, Angela, Lori, Lisa and Barbara, for the wonderful care that Shirley received while she was in their care. We would also like to thank her granddaughter Becky Yahnel for the great love and care she showed "Nana" both at the nursing home throughout the years and at Peg's home during the final hours.

Arrangements are being made by Redington Funeral Home, 5 Park St., Waterville.

Visiting will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, with a service following at 2 p.m. with the Rev. John Quigg.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's name may be made to either the Waterville Hospice or the National Alzheimer's Association.