THOMAS C. 'PELK' PELKEY, 42, of 123 Meadow Street, Chicopee, formerly of Pittsfield, died Thursday, December 24, at Baystate Medical Center. Born in Hampton, Virginia, on January 17, 1967, a son Louis D. Pelkey and the
late Charlene A. Dawley, he attended Pittsfield schools and was a 1984 graduate of Taconic High School, and a 1988 graduate of Berkshire Community College where he earned an associate's degree in criminal justice.
At the time of his death, Mr. Pelkey was a beer distributor for Specialized Carrier in Springfield, where he had been employed for the past six years.
Previously, he had owned and operated a Thomas English Muffin franchise for five years and had worked for Wonder Bread for ten years.
While in Pittsfield, Mr. Pelkey was employed by the Berkshire County Sheriff's Department as a Corrections Officer at the Berkshire County House of Correction when it was located on Second Street.
He enjoyed boating and traveling to Cape Cod and Maine. He was also a New
York Giants and Boston Red Sox fan.
Besides his father and his father's wife, Elmeta, of Monroe Georgia, he is
survived by a brother, Michael J. Pelkey and his wife, Tammy, of Cohoes, NewYork; his
stepfather, Daniel E. Irish and his wife, Pam, of Pittsfield; and former wife, Kathleen A.
Quinn of Pittsfield; as well as a niece, Bryanna Pelkey and a nephew, Zachery Pelkey,
and his paternal grandmother, Arlene Pelkey Jones of Cartersville,Georgia.
Mr. Pelkey was pre-deceased by his maternal grandparents, Adaline and
Charles Dawley and his partrnal grandfather, Louis D. Pelkey, Sr.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Calling hours for THOMAS C. PELKEY, who died Thursday, December
24, will be Wednesday, December 30, at from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at DERY FUNERAL
HOME. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 2, at 9:00
a.m., at St. Joseph Church, celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Michael A. Shershanovich,
Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions
in memory of Mr. Pelkey may be made to the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club in care
of the Funeral Home, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield, 01201.