Jerry Ray Thrasher, age 82 years young, passed unexpectedly from this life on March 19, 2014. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama on February 19, 1932 to Margaret Horner Dillon and Ray R. Thrasher. His dad passed away when he was approximately 14 years old and his stepfather was John W. Dillon. He graduated from John Herbert Phillip High. After high school, he enlisted in the army, and attended officer candidate school. He became a Lieutenant in the airborne Artillery Unit being responsible for the fire detection control center. He was honorably discharged in 1954.
Jerry married his wife Sue Carolyn Lowe of Birmingham, Alabama in May of 1955. His first son, Michael Thrasher, was born March of 1956. His Daughter, Cynthia Lynn Thrasher, was born in April of 1958. Jerry attended the University of Alabama from 1954-1958 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He moved to Irving, Texas in June of 1958 where he was employed by LTV Aeronautics until 1965. His Youngest son, Ken Lee Thrasher, was born in Dallas, Texas 1962. Jerry and his family moved to the Clear Lake area south of Houston in 1965 to work with the space program at NASA. Upon arrival he was employed at GE as systems engineer/operations analyst for 8 years. He built a house in Nassau Bay, Texas and lived there for 33 years. After his stint at GE, Jerry moved to Lockheed Martin where he worked for 23 years and retired in 1996. One of the most enjoyable and memorable aspects of Jerry’s time spent working for the space program were many deep and lasting friendships he made with his fellow team members. His wife Sue contracted ovarian cancer and he took care of her until her passing in 1997. He moved to Friendswood, Texas in 1999. His last move was to Montgomery, Texas in 2010 until the time of his death in 2014. During his time of residence in Montgomery, he took care of his mother Margaret Horner Dillon until her death at age 101 ½ .
Mr. Thrasher was an active member in Kappa Sigma while in College at the University of Alabama and theta Tau as a member of the professional engineering fraternity. He was in one of the first group of members of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. He also visited Gateway Community Church and was a member of Woodlands Church.
Jerry was an avid Gardener and enjoyed carpentry, computers, and physical fitness; He also enjoyed investing in people and took a special interest in raising his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mr. Thrasher is survived by sons Michael and Ken Thrasher of Houston and Magnolia, Texas respectively; Cynthia Wade of Seabrook, Texas four granddaughters: LaTisha Jackson, Amber Cartwright, Brittany Hutchinson and Natalie Wade; three grandsons: Sean Wade, Alex Thrasher and Ian Thrasher, four great-grandchildren: Taylor Jackson, Tyler Jackson, Colten Jackson and Bailey Shelton. He is also survived by his aunt Anna Hadden of Pleasant Grove, Alabama and his uncle William Horner of Fort Myers, Florida.
A celebration of Jerry’s life will begin with the viewing service at Forest Park East Funeral Home on I-45 south in Webster, Texas from 6-8P.M. on Friday, March 28th. The memorial service follows the next day, Saturday, March 29th at Forest Park East Chapel beginning at 3:00P.M. with a reception at the Gateway Community Church Coffee Shop to follow from 5-7P.M. Gateway Community Church is located on Clear Lake City Boulevard between I-45 and Highway 3.
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