Doris Lillian Thatcher

DORIS LILLIAN (COLLINS) THATCHER A star has left us on Feb. 6, 2004, and she will be sorely missed. Born April 5, 1921 in Camden, Texas, the youngest child of Ernest Idell Collins and Ada Collins (Williams), Lillian attended elementary school in Camden, and high school in Chester, Tx, graduating Salutatorian in 1938. In her last year she was queen of the high school. She went on to college, attending Paris Jr. College (Paris, Tx), East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, and graduated in 1941 from Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, Tx with a BS degree. She was in Alpha Phi Sigma, and a founding member of the Philomatheans at Sam Houston. Also while there she worked for the education department and the Registrars office. During her elementary teaching career she taught in Moscow, then Angleton, Tx; Flint, Mi; in Corrigan and Camden, Tx.; and finally in Spring Branch (a suburb of Houston), Alvin and Manvel, Tx. During World War II, she worked for the Navy as a civil service employee in the communications office in Orange, Tx. There she met her soon-to-be husband, Russell Sylvester Thatcher (of Flint, Mi.), a naval Ensign. They married within 8 days. She is survived by her eldest son Russell Gregory Thatcher, 2nd son Paul C. Thatcher (of Spokane, Wa.), and twin daughters, Barbara (Call, later Willis) and Rebecca Hanshaw. Also 10 grandchildren: Sarah and Clay Thatcher; Chad, Scott, and Brian Thatcher (of Spokane, Wa.); Rachel, Lauren, and Kyle Hanshaw; Len Call Jr. and Christina (Alvarez); and 3 great grandchildren, Taylor Lillian and Nickalos Alfonso Alvarez and Kinnadiee Lyn Thatcher. Seven stepsisters of the Baker family also survive her. Jimmie Settle of Beaumont, Billie Kenneson of Beaumont, Jackie Arnold of Groves, Thelma "Flickie" Grady of Lufkin, Elizabeth "Punkie" Williamson of Denton, Bettye Platt of Lufkin, and Dottie Lovett of Beaumont. Lillian is preceded in death by her husband Russell S. Thatcher (on Dec. 9, 2003), her sister Lennie, her eldest brother W.F. Collins, her twin brothers Arva and Iva, and stepsister Georgia Walsh (also a Baker) and stepbrother Fred "Bake" Baker. Friends may visit at American Heritage Funeral Home from 10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M. Friday, February 13, 2004. Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 14, 2004 in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be Tuesday at Houston National Cemetery.