BALTIMORE - Shepard (Shep) Thayer Thomas, 74, of Baltimore, Vermont, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2015, surrounded by his loving family and his granddog, Sasha.

Shep was the oldest son of the late Elbridge C. and Anna Shepard Thomas. He was also predeceased by his nephew Robert Thomas. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 54 years, Judith Abbott Thomas; 2 daughters Sarah Thomas and husband Ricardo Duran, of La Jara, New Mexico, and Penni Thomas and life partner, Steve Haldeman, of North Springfield, Vermont; brother John Thomas; and niece Joan Whaley and her family, husband Mark and sons Christopher and Matthew all of Baltimore; 4 grandsons Jeremy Strate and wife Cylvia of Baltimore, VT; Shane Strate of Sanford, NC; and Cody and Brandon Mashni of Jacksonville, FL; step-grandchildren Lenna Duran Martin and Melissa Duran Martinez of Albuquerque, NM, and Christopher Duran of San Francisco, CA; and great granddaughters Brooke Martin and Zoey Martinez.

Shep grew up on the family farm in Baltimore and attended Springfield schools graduating in the Class of 59. Many class floats were built at his home. His family, his many friends and acquaintances are one of his most enduring legacies. He never met a stranger.

He served his community in many capacities including serving as Selectman, Lister and Road Commissioner for the Town of Baltimore; member of the Town Council in Gouverneur, NY; St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau, NY Board President and lobbyist; Connecticut River Development Corporation Chairman of the Board; Southern Windsor County Transportation Advisory Commission; Windsor County and VT Sugarmakers Associations; and 4-H member, National Club Congress Delegate and leader. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, the North American Hunting Club, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. After high school, Shep trained in Idaho as a heavy equipment operator. He returned to Vermont to work at Bryant Grinder for several years before beginning a career as a dairy farmer in Vermont and Northern New York. He owned and operated Fire Control/Advanced Fire and Safety where he made many friends around the state. In 1983 he bought his first sawmill. He continued to saw custom orders, and make more friends, until just before his death.

A Celebration of Life Pig Roast will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Thomas Family Farm, 1714 Baltimore Road, Baltimore, VT. All who knew him are welcome to come, share a dish and some memories. Donations may be made to the Visiting Nurse and Hospice for VT and NH P.O. Box 976, White River Junction, VT 05001 or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at www.rmef.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Memorial Chapel in Springfield, Vt.

Published in Rutland Herald on Mar. 17, 2015