Obituary

Thayer Vallas

Tue, 05/16/2017 - 10:30am

Thayer Vallas, 87, of Boothbay, died peacefully with her family by her side on May 11, 2017.

She was born on January 25, 1930 to the late Stella and William Anastos who both emigrated from Greece.

Thayer grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts and attended Braintree High School and Fisher Junior College.

She served as the secretary to the president of Kelch Grain, a grain brokerage exchange in Boston.

In 1956, Thayer married her husband, Arthur C. Vallas, whom she had known since the age of 5. They began raising a family in 1957 in Wilmington, Massachusetts and later in Andover and Falmouth, Massachusetts. In 1996, Thayer and Arthur retired to Boothbay.

Thayer had a great love of music. She passed on this love to her children, and joyously gathered friends and family together to sing by her piano. She will be remembered for her beautiful soprano voice, her solos from any choir loft, and her lilting, effortless harmonies. Her voice was heaven on earth.

Thayer loved the outdoors. In retirement, she and Arthur ventured on cross-country trips, enjoying national parks and being inspired by the vastness of nature.

She was very active walking in Boothbay Region Land Trust preserves, and was always quick to observe birds and wildlife scurrying through her yard. She and her husband enjoyed canoeing past Tibbetts Island to observe a bald eagle family for many years.

Thayer also loved working out at “Curves” and enjoyed the people she met there.

Most recently, Thayer’s favorite spot was sitting next to her husband in their rockers, peacefully reading and taking in the view of Back River.

Thayer was the beloved wife of Arthur Vallas for 61 years; the loving mother of Stacey Ann Vallas and her husband Reinier Warschauer of Portland, Oregon, Donna Lyn Vallas of Colorado, and Kim Vallas, of Biddeford. She was the devoted sister of Eugenia Ludlow of Norwell, Massachusetts and Athena Spoonts of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and her predeceased brothers, Peter and George Anastos. She cherished her grandchildren, Alexander and Benjamin Warschauer, both of Portland, Oregon, as well as many nieces and nephews.

At Thayer’s request, there will be no memorial service.

Donations in Thayer’s memory may be made to Boothbay Region Land Trust and Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library.

Hall’s of Boothbay has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, visit hallfuneralhomes.com