John A. “Jack” Thayer, 91, of Owensboro passed away on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. John Atkinson Thayer was born on January 27, 1933 in San Diego, California to the late Ernest Thayer and Dorothy Mae Johnson Thayer.
Jack graduated from Sweetwater High School in National City, California in 1950 and joined the United States Air Force. After graduating from Electronics and Radar School he served in New Jersey, Vermont, and Korea. He later attended San Diego Sate University and San Diego City College. Jack worked for General Dynamics as a test engineer and worked in conjunction with the United States Navy’s Office of Research and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. During the 1980s he owned and operated Copico of San Diego which serviced libraries, post offices, and drug stores with over 200 coin-operated copy machines.
After his retirement, he moved to Owensboro and served the people of Daviess County over 20 years as a Deputy Coroner and became a Master Coroner in 2014. After his wife’s death in 2015, with the help of her daughters, they continued to teach her aquacise class at the Owensboro Family YMCA.
He enjoyed working on old cars, R.V. camping, home remodeling, UK Basketball, and the late San Diego Chargers. Jack was also a member of American Legion Post 9 and a Kentucky Colonel.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Todd Adam Thayer; a step-daughter, Shree Lynn Horton; a brother, Donald Ernest Thayer; step-son, Edwin Derr Gard; great-granddaughter, Stella Grace Payne; and the love of his life and soulmate, Sue Gard Thayer, of February 13, 2015.
Survivors include two sons, Mark Thayer and Lance Thayer; a sister, Marilyn Frederickson (Richard); step-daughters, Kim Gard Simmons, Pam Gard Oldham, and Renee Gard King (Michael Orton), all of Owensboro; a step-son, Greg Gard of Owensboro; grandchildren, Shayne Thayer (Raven), Katie Hodges (Rusty), Abby Thayer (Reuben), Jordan Thayer, Christopher Thayer, Matthew Thayer, Lauren Thayer, Kiley Thayer, and Cody Hollowell; step-grandchildren, Amanda Reffitt (Nathan), Matthew Simmons, Drew Nelson-Gard (Chris), Nicholas Oldham, Chloe King, Bryson Gard (Nicole), and Janson Gard; numerous great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 6:00pm on Friday, August 30, 2024 at James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory. Servies will be live-streamed at www.davisfuneralhome.com. Visitation will be on Friday from 2:00pm until 6:00pm at the funeral home.