Gypsy Skelton Thomas

She is survived by her son, Tim Storey and his wife Elaine, grandchildren Jamie Chaviers and husband Brian, Candice Storey Hostetter and Chris Bryars and his wife, Andrea. She also had 10 great-grandchildren.

Gypsy was born July 14, 1934, in Tuscaloosa, the youngest of 13 children to Ira and Cora Lee Skelton. She was a graduate of Holt High School.

Her late husband, Robert Storey, was a United Methodist pastor in the North Alabama Conference, and Gypsy sang in choirs and served in many other ministries in various churches.

She began work as a secretary at Cokesbury Bookstore in 1967, and later was promoted to manager of stores in Birmingham and Vestavia. She traveled extensively to set up displays for Cokesbury products at numerous pastors’ meetings over the years. She enjoyed her friendship with ministers in the Conference and encouraged them promoting helpful books and church supplies.

Her late husband, Alan Thomas, died in 2008.

Gypsy enjoyed home decorating and lawncare. She was a member of the Vestavia United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials gifts to the American Heart Association (heart.org).

The memorial service will be graveside at Southern Heritage Funeral home on December 20, at 11:00 a.m. Pastors Clark Skelton, Gypsy’s nephew, and Michael Brooks will officiate.