Marilyn Thrasher

Marilyn was born March 5, 1929 in her family’s home in Seminole County in the community of Little, Oklahoma. As a girl she grew up on the family farm watching crops grow and, once old enough, performing various chores including hand picking cotton with her siblings. She met and married I. B. (Ted) Thrasher in 1949 in Gainesville, Texas and they remained married for 65 years. Their first son, Ted Michael, was born August of 1950 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The family had a farm with cattle and their son always got his pick of the new calves to be “his”. Of course, as soon as the calf began to grow out of its cute phase, he would want to trade for another, smaller, cuter calf. In 1957, the family moved overseas to Venezuela, beginning an 18 year adventure during which they lived in seven countries (Libya, Nigeria, Chile, Columbia, Venezuela (twice for a total of 9 years), Italy and England) on three continents. In 1964, Marilyn flew from Libya to Oklahoma where their second son, Kelly Todd, was born. Mother and child returned to Libya after 7 weeks to introduce him to his father. Little did the unsuspecting parents know the lengths to which their patience would be tested by this newest addition to their family. Marilyn concentrated on being a homemaker and raising her sons while Ted worked in the oilfield. She filled many roles for her family and was at any given time Mom, medic, teacher, friend, fight referee, farmer, snake hunter, relief pitcher, left fielder, spectator and confidante among the many, many other roles she filled. Such were the times in the 1960’s that she made Molotov cocktails in the back room of their house in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in case the house was stormed during the civil unrest in 1966. Surely this qualifies her as a soldier as well. The family returned to the USA in 1975 and settled in Conroe, Texas where they made their home for the next 39 years until Ted’s passing in 2014. They owned a lake house in Bull Shoals, Arkansas for 35 years where they entertained friends and family, enjoying the Ozark Mountains and trout fishing in the White River. Many a pleasant day was spent on the river catching trout and telling stories before returning to the house to clean the day’s catch and cook them for dinner. After dinner, the stories would continue on the back deck or in the living room by the fireplace until the evening was called. In retirement, Marilyn and Ted travelled extensively, visiting Alaska, The Northwest Territories and Canada to fish and Nova Scotia, New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Austria, Switzerland and Mexico to sight see and relax. Marilyn relished her time spent spoiling grand children and great grand children, enjoyed helping teach them many of life’s skills, reveling in their successes and encouraging them to reach new highs. She loved her family and friends and would do anything in her power to make their lives happy and ease their pains and heartaches. She was preceded in death by her parents Alfred Lee And Mattie C (Hensley) Tankersley, her husband I. B. (Ted) Thrasher, her brother Alfred Lee Tankersley, Jr. and her sister Carolyn Lou Martin. Left to cherish her memory include her two children: Ted Michael and Dorothy Thrasher of Ocate, New Mexico; Kelly and Terry Thrasher of Montgomery, Texas. Three Grandsons: Adam Thrasher (Stephanie) of Smyrna, Tennesee; Ethan Thrasher of Montgomery, Texas; Joshua Thrasher of Montgomery, Texas. Two Great Grandchildren: Savanah Thrasher of Smyrna Tennessee and Nolan Thrasher of Smyrna, Tennessee. Many nieces and nephews and friends. The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of Silver Hills Assisted Living in Montgomery, Texas for all their care and friendship. Visitation will be Sunday, January 23, 2022 from 1:00pm to 5pm at Walker Funeral Service. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 24, 2022 at Walker Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery.