Ann Jean Thomas – Poet

Ann Jean Thomas, of Woodstock Vermont, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 7, 2015, at the age of 88.

Ann was born in London, England on November 11, 1926, to Arthur and Rona Davis. She grew up in London and attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, earning an MA with Honours, in English Language and Literature. Her tutors included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

In 1952, she married David Thomas, and moved to the United States. Ann and David raised their four children – Mark, Charlotte, Miranda, and Toby – in Sneden's Landing, NY; Milan, Italy and Sydney, Australia. Ann travelled extensively and returned to the Boston area in 1981 before making her home in River St. Woodstock, VT in 2002. One constant through all these years was time she spent in the beloved family cabin in Denmark, Maine. For the last two years, Ann was in the loving care of Mertens House in Woodstock.

Ann Thomas began writing poetry when she was six years old. She has been published in Oxford Poetry, The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry Durham, Verse, The Button, and Poetry Ireland. In 1996, she completed her first book of poetry "A Safe House". Her second book, "All Summer's Ahead," a poetry almanac, illustrated by her daughter, Miranda Thomas, was published in 2013.

After graduating university, Ann was employed by the British Council in London. Later, Ann worked as a medical literature researcher on the psychopharmacology of lithium and rubidium in the treatment of manic-depressive illness. In 2010, Ann completed the extensive archives of her father Arthur J. Davis, RA, RIBA, for the Royal Institute of British Architects. Her father's works included the London Ritz, many other landmark buildings in London, and the interiors of White Star Liners: The Queen Mary and RMS Aquitania. The archives are currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Ann is survived by her husband of 63 years, David Thomas and their four children; Mark Thomas and his wife, Kelan, of Belmont, MA; Charlotte Lanahan and her husband Ty, of North Pomfret; VT, Miranda (Thomas) Shackleton and her husband, Charles, of Bridgewater, VT; and Toby Thomas and his wife, Tristyn Patrick of Shaker Heights, OH. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Sophia, Hugh, Matthew, Gabrielle, Christopher, Natalie and Graeme. She is predeceased by her brother, Ronald Davis.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 2pm at St. James Episcopal Church, On the Green, Woodstock, VT.

For decades Ann was very active in building a strong community in Harlem, NY. Donations in memory of Ann can be made out to: Harlem Interagency Council of the Aging, mailed to: ShackletonThomas, Attn. Charlotte Lanahan, P.O. Box 48, Bridgewater, VT 05034

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com