Susan Gayle Thomas

On the evening of March 6, 2026, the world got a little less colorful—and perhaps a little less blue—as Susan Gayle Thomas, 70, passed away peacefully surrounded by the family she cherished. After a long and courageous battle with her health, she is finally at peace, likely watching the sunset on a beach with a strong drink in hand, smiling as she watches over us.

Born on August 19, 1955, in Roanoke, Virginia, to the late Charlie Onex Moorefield and Evelyn Dorothy Arthur, Susan was a vibrant soul with a big heart. She embraced motherhood at a young age and then shared 42 wonderful years of marriage with her devoted husband, John Michael Thomas, building a life defined by loyalty, laughter, and an impressive collection of rings.

She was a woman of boundless personality. If you knew her, you knew how much love she had for her family and for the color blue—from her house and her cars right down to her kitchen walls. She was a woman who loved the sun and scoffed at sunscreen, happiest by the ocean or lounging in the pool. While she enjoyed camping in her earlier years, she eventually (and wisely) traded her tent for the comfort of a good hotel with a nice dock for fishing.

When she wasn’t outdoors, she spent her time attending concerts, watching the Buccaneers win or lose, and playing games with her family. Spades, Scrabble and World of Warcraft were a few of her favorites. She was a true gamer before her time, a passion she passed down to her children.

Nothing brought her more happiness quite like the Holidays. Each present was meticulously wrapped and opened one by one each Christmas morning, her face lighting with joy as she was surrounded by smiling faces. She had a magical way of bringing us all together.

She also had a love for frogs, fresh flowers, and a house full of family. It was impossible to visit her and not hear a ribbit coming from her cookie jar, seeing her vases above the cabinets catch the light, or finding your face hung on her photo wall. She truly knew how to make her family feel special and seen.

Above all, she was the anchor of her family. She was the permanent host of family dinners, cooking way too much food and ensuring that no one ever left hungry. She lived for the magic of Christmas mornings and the chaos of Easter egg hunts. To her, family wasn't just a word; it was a value she lived every day, and one she instilled in her children as well.

Susan was predeceased by her parents and her baby brother, Charlie Edward. Her legacy of love lives on through those she’s left behind including her husband, John Michael Thomas, her 4 children, Tasha (Juan) Lopez, Wayne (Rita) Darnold, Bruce (Tiffany) Darnold, and Connie Winnett, her 17 grandchildren, Allison, Hunter, Tiffany, Damon, Daniel, Kaylee, Robert, Brent, Skylar, Elizabeth, Pyper, Stella, Brooke, Braxton, Amithey, Joseph, Tyrus, Brayden, and Kendell, her 8 great grandchildren, Wednesday, Ronan, Audree, Rhyse, Ryder, Xavier, Alivia, and Caspian, and her siblings, Audrey Wilson, Patricia Greggs, Carl and Penny Moorefield, Lisa and Johnny Jones, and Gina Moorefield.

Susan Gayle Thomas will be missed beyond measure, but every time her family gathers for a meal, soaks up the sun, or hangs ornaments on their Christmas tree, her spirit will be there, always reminding them how much they are loved and to savor these moments.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Baldwin Fairchild at Chapel Hill, 2420 Harrell Road, Orlando, FL 32817, US, on March 13, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. There will be a reception to greet the family and pay your respects from 5-7pm following the service.