Colleen Thacker

Mrs. Thacker's funeral service will be live-streamed here.

  Colleen Thacker, age 97,  of Talmage, Utah, passed away at Parkside Manor, Roosevelt, Utah on May 9, 2021 just 21 days short of being 98.   She was very proud that she had lived so long.  
    She was born May 30, 1923 in Holden, Utah to Charlotte Whear and J. Reese Turner, at the home of her grandparents.   Her parents divorced and she lived in Salt Lake with her mother’s parents until the age of 9 years old.  Her Mother married our precious Grandpa Bill Erickson of Boneta, Utah. Where her mother had been teaching school.  Now she had even more cousins that accepted her as their own, the Madsen and Fieldsted families.  
    She attended elementary school in Boneta and Altamont High.  She married Earl A Thacker on February 7, 1939 and moved to a 40-acre sagebrush farm in Talmage, where she lived for most of her life.   When she married, she then had 6 brothers and 7 sisters.   Having been an only child she was in seventh heaven.  She worked very hard making their life together.   She milked many cows and in the first few years of their life together, she would skim the cream off the milk and one day a week she walked one mile to the cream testing station with her little bowl of cream to sell for their meager income.  
    During World War II they had a daughter and in 1945 Earl was drafted into the army.  They had to sell their cows, horses and tractor to be able to pay off all debts so she could financially survive while he was gone.  Their son was born while he was in the service and he was 18 months old before his daddy came home from Japan.
    She loved people and enjoyed visits with friends and family.  She had many talents and has always enjoyed cooking, crocheting, reading, camping, family reunions, raising a huge garden and lots of canning.   She has had many church callings, Relief Society, Young Womens, teaching primary, visiting teaching, cub scouts, Library Assistant and Temple worker at the Vernal Temple for many years.   She worked for Duchesne County School District as a cook in Altamont and Duchesne.  Loved the kids and coworkers.  
    Each summer in their younger years their vacation was with Phyllis and Blaine Brotherson and Wayne and Lyla McDonald riding horses into the high Uintas to fish.  She attended two world fairs, one in New York and Washington State.  She traveled to China, Hong Kong and Japan.  Went on many tours with Wilkins Tours.  On one of those trips, she was having some back problems, and someone said Colleen you need to use a cane.  She said, “Oh I have one at home, but it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase” very active all of her life and could out walk us all.  
    She is survived by her three children: Karen Sorensen (Bill deceased) Talmage, Utah, Todd and Susan Thacker of Jensen, Utah, Kip and Lori Thacker Worland, Wyoming.   15 grandchildren, 38 great grand children and 32 great great grandchildren with 3 on the way.        Sister-in-law, Berniece Thacker of Upalco and brother-in-Law, Max Farnsworth of Orem, Utah
and many nieces and nephews.  
    Preceded in death by her spouse Earl Thacker, her parents, 2 grandsons and 1 great great grandson.
    She has lived in Parkside Manor for 10 ½ years after having a knee replacement and two hip surgeries withing 6 months.  Oh how we love and appreciate Tammy and her great staff. These girls have all treated mom as they would treat their own mothers.  The many residents that she met and loved.  Dr. Graham for his kindness and care and the sweet people from hospice who helped her at the end of her life.  
    Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Moon Lake Ward chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a viewing from 9:00 - 10:45 .  
    Interment in the Mountain Home/ Boneta Cemetery.