Cleo Thacker

Cleo is someone' special to so many people. When I think of Cleo, so many adjectives come to mind. Strong and Loving are just two that show her character. She would talk for hours about her childhood and family. That always put a smile on her face. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are her babies. She often told me that she wasn't afraid of dying, she was only afraid of leaving her family. Her wish was that her family would stay together and hold each other tight. The last few weeks did show the love her family and friends have for her. Calls and visits always brightened her day. Having all her children and grandchildren together again this past Saturday night at once would have put a smile on her face. Cleo spent her life as a caretaker for so many people and worked as a Teacher's Aide at Millard Elementary School, and she was a member of the Church of Christ. Springtime was her favorite time of year and loved watching her flowers bloom. Her flower garden was one of her pride and joy. She would harvest the seeds in the fall to replant in Spring.

Cleo Coleman Thacker was born March 7, 1947, to Harless and Pluma Green Coleman, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, March 2, 2026, with her children by her side as she left this troubled world and joined her loved ones that she missed so much. 

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Buster Brown Thacker and infant son, Ken Edgar Thacker. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Walter, Herman, Homer, Foster, Larry and Gary Coleman and her sister Helen Coleman Marrs.

Cleo is survived by her children, one son Buck Allen (Aimee) Thacker of Mount Sterling, Ky and one daughter Angela (Randall) Wellman of Richmond, Ky. Five grandchildren, Timmy (Megan) Thacker of Williamsburg, KY, Courtney (Mikey) Harley of Richmond, KY, Alyssa (Gage) Wright of Pikeville, KY, Kate Norman of Lexington, Ky. Six great-grandchildren, Reaghan Thacker, Rayleigh Thacker, Timber Thacker of Williamsburg, KY, Owen Harley, Payslee Harley and Waylon Harley of Richmond, KY and Grayson Boggs of Mount Sterling. Sisters, Opal James of Pikeville, KY and Joyce Curry of Canada, KY. Cleo is also survived by special friend and neighbor, Melvie Thacker and son Bobby Thacker along with a host of family and friends.

A silence fell across Red Creek this week that will forever be felt. Cleo, you will forever be loved and missed by so many. Your memory will live on.

A visitation honoring Cleo, will be held, Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Lucas and Son Funeral Home at 6 PM, with church service beginning at 7 PM. The following day, Thursday, March 5, 2026, a funeral service will take place beginning at 12 noon also at Lucas and Son Funeral Home, with burial in the Thacker Cemetery at Red Creek.