Doralee Thrasher

Doralee Thrasher, of Austin, Texas (by way of Atlanta, Georgia), passed away peacefully on October 20th, 2025. A woman of grace, kindness, and an inexhaustible spirit, she left this world after a long and courageous fight against the ravages of scleroderma.

Doralee was born and raised in the Atlanta area, the oldest daughter of Tunis P. Thrasher and Grace Knight Thrasher. Tunis was a veteran of WWII who returned stateside to join his two brothers in founding the barnstorming Thrasher Brothers Aerial Circus which performed weekly across the South between 1945 and 1950. It was no surprise to anyone that Doralee had inherited that same courageous and adventurous spirit from her dad.

A proud graduate of Georgia Tech where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and earned a degree in Industrial Management, Doralee was an aficionado of all things Southern. She was always at hand to proclaim the superiority of Georgia peaches and Vidalia onions over all other competing varieties. And she was quick to impart her knowledge to Atlanta visitors and neophytes on the proper way to place an order at the Varsity, where she often opted to “Walk a naked dog” (plain hot dog to go) with an “F.O.” (frosted orange). You could take her out of Georgia but, even after almost 50 years of residence in the Lone Star State, no one succeeded in removing Atlanta from her heart.

After arriving in Austin, Doralee excelled in the Insurance industry, first as Travis County’s Risk Manager and then at the Texas Association of School Boards where she rose to Division Director of Underwriting and Marketing. Her work took her to many countries near and far and she became a seasoned world traveler. But for Doralee nothing could surpass the culture, cuisine, and experiences to be had in Paris. It was an unfulfilled dream of hers to live in Paris part time. Hopefully, in the next life.

Closer to home, her happy place was at her cousin Miki & husband Judge Bill Mcfatter’s magnificent beach house (McBeach) in Panama City Beach, Florida. Over the past decade she enjoyed annual sojourns to McBeach accompanied by family and friends.

She was an unparalleled protector of the canine species and was a founding member of central Texas area Helping Hands Basset Rescue.

But above all else, Doralee was devoted to her family and countless friends. She was always present to engage with and support them even after her illness robbed her of strength.

She was loved and is missed by all that knew her.

Doralee was preceded in death by both her mother, Grace Knight Thrasher, and father Tunis Powell Thrasher, Sr..

She is survived by David Escamilla, her best friend and husband of 35 years; her sisters Nancy Chambers (Keith) and Ann Thrasher; her brother Tunis Powell Thrasher, Jr.; sister-in-law Becky Escamilla (Aimee) and brother-in-law Rudy Escamilla (Laura).

Doralee is also survived by nieces Katherine Hudson (Chase), Jillian Canada (Tim), Kristina Escamilla Gilmore (Josh), Kelly Escamilla Pederson; and nephews Adam Thrasher (Ashley) and Nathan Ryan Escamilla.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 30th, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 5416 Parkcrest Dr., in Austin, Texas with a reception immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Helping Hands Basset Rescue in memory of Doralee Thrasher.