Obituary

Funeral services for Joyce Thrasher, 94, of Plainview will be at 2 p.m. Thursday June 3, 2010, at First Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Neil Unwin officiating. Interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home. A visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Thrasher died Sunday, May 30, 2010, at Prairie House Living Center in Plainview. She was born July 10, 1915, in Vernon, Texas, to Rice L. and Maudie Cantrell. Joyce moved with her parents to New Mexico in 1924 after her parents purchased a farm there. She attended schools in Porter, N.M., graduating in 1933. She met and married John Albert Thrasher, "The Neighbors Son," on Jan. 21, 1933, in Tucumcari. The family lived in Portales and Roswell, N.M., during WWII. In 1950, while living in Portales, the family became members of the Assembly of God. Her family moved to Texas in 1953 and lived in Matador for eight years. During this time, Joyce became a minister of Assembly of God. Later after home study, she became a licensed minister. She ministered in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico as an evangelist. Later she worked with the West Texas District of Assembly of God as Circle Leader for about 17 years. She also did some interim pastorate work. She was a member of First Assembly of God in Plainview for more than 30 years. She loved the Lord, she loved her family and she loved her ministry. Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Juanita and Gene Baker of Kennewick, Wash.; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Frank Thrasher of Mt. Vernon and Clinton and Gail Thrasher and Albert and Gwen Thrasher, all of Plainview; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; two daughters, Texanna Del Wilcher and Carolyn Joyce Rose; two sisters; four brothers; and both parents. Online condolences can be made at [email protected]