Michael Thacker

Michael Paul Thacker was born July 6, 1960, in Wichita Falls, Texas, son of Robert William and Velma Lou Thacker. He passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at age 61. A memorial service to celebrate his life will take place at 4 p.m., Tuesday, February 15, at the Hampton Vaughn Crestview Funeral Home Chapel.

Michael attended Grandfield Oklahoma Public Schools and graduated in 1978. After graduation, Michael toured Europe and England extensively. Upon returning home, he attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, before beginning work in Wichita Falls, Texas. While working together in Wichita Falls, he met the love of his life, Teresa Rene Christman. They were married on August 13, 1983.They were blessed with two children, Ryne Garret and Blair Nicole.

After managing several businesses in Wichita Falls, Michael eventually accepted a position with a sales and distributing company and traveled throughout the Midwest for his work. His last job in security was probably his most satisfying, because it gave him many opportunities to meet and make friends, a gift that came easily to Mike all his life. He never met a stranger.

Mike was a good example of what the Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote, “Waste no time talking about what a good man should be. Simply be one.” Mike was a good and simple man in the best sense of the word. He was a person who cared deeply for others. He loved his wife, children, and the rest of his family dearly. Michael was known to his immediate family as Dad, Mike, Brother and Uncle Mike.

He especially enjoyed cooking at holidays and special events. From grilling outdoors to baking bread, Mike was an excellent, even an adventurous cook, with a special taste for all things spicy. He had a lifelong passion for history and was a walking encyclopedia of historic facts and stories.

He really loved animals, especially dogs. Throughout his lifetime, he had many dogs that he cherished. Daughter Blair shared her dad’s love for animals. The two of them loved spending time together and had their own unique “language,” which included lots of playful bantering back and forth. Although he was a “man’s man,” Mike was a great dad for a beautiful and very creative and talented daughter.

Mike’s passion for baseball and love of kids made him a great coach. During the time his children grew up, he coached many baseball and softball teams and enjoyed this very much. He was the ultimate Chicago Cubs fan. Every summer, Mike and son Ryne traveled to many Cubs games nationwide to watch them play baseball, and they would always work in a fishing trip. He also enjoyed watching the Oklahoma Sooners play football.

Mike enjoyed fishing with his dad in his childhood years and later with his son Ryne most of all. Just last summer, Mike and Ryne traveled to Arkansas with friends to fish for trout. Upon returning home, Mike professed that he was hooked on fly fishing and immediately bought all the gear he would need to do it again next summer.

Through his entire life, the people who knew and loved Mike best counted on him as a stable, loving presence. His wife Teresa said often, “Mike is our rock.” He will forever be remembered as a special man who would do anything for his family, friends, and even strangers; a good man who could be counted on in tough times, and a person who understood the honor that lies in being a true friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents and Uncle Welton Burch.

Survivors include his wife, Teresa; son Ryne and girlfriend Cayla of Fort Worth; daughter Blair of Lakeside City; brother Rocky and wife Cathy of Grandfield, Oklahoma; cousin Teresa Burch of Los Angeles, CA; nephew Kelly and wife Melissa of Lawton, OK.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Wichita Falls and Healing Hands Healthcare for their excellent care, especially his nurse Anissa. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in his name to Hospice of Wichita Falls.