Mae Phillips Thacker 89, of Greenup Ky was born in Fishtrap, Pike County, Kentucky, on November 26, 1927.  She left us, surrounded by her loving family at the Oakmont Manor Nursing Home, on Sunday, January 15, 2017 after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. 

A devout mother, sister, ‘mom-mom’, grandmother, friend, and Christian figure to her family, friends and neighbors. Mae was known as an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for her family and friends.  Over the years her collaboration of recipes was not so much those collected in her kitchen, but those that came from her memory.  Back when she learned to cook; cookbooks were not in abundance. One had to rely on memory and learn from those they were around.  She put her talent to good use.  Not only did she use that talent, but when doing so, she did it while teaching about God’s word in the kindest of ways.  No unkind word was ever spoken.  “Be kind and it will come back to you 10 fold” were words spoken often from her lips.  One of her greatest joys was to know someone was coming to visit, preparing their favorite dessert, and watching as they savored every morsel of what she lovingly preparing for them.  Those visits were always welcomed.  The total amount of her fried apples pies, chocolate gravy, chocolate cakes, homemade biscuits, cornbread, and the pounds of potatoes she has peeled in her lifetime were enormous. 

Mae’s maternal experience began at a very early age due to the death of her own mother.  After her sophomore year at Feds Creek High School in Feds Creek, Kentucky, she became the mother-figure in her own family to her 8 siblings.  She helped her father with all of the younger children, some of which were infants, until she and Willie were married on December 23, 1946 at the Courthouse in Pikeville, Kentucky.  After she and Willie married, she would continue to assume the “motherly duties” of washing and ironing all of their clothes on the weekends, fixing large meals, and most of her brothers, who were greatly attached to her, lived with she and Willie.  She was particularly protective of the younger ones. 

In 1964, Mae and Willie moved from Pike County to Greenup, Kentucky.  She worked in the Cinderella Sewing Factory on Carter Avenue in Ashland, Kentucky for a short period of time. This was the only public employment Mae ever held She was an active member of the Flatwoods of Church of Christ, helping those who needed meals, being the one of encouragement, and serving the Lord in any capacity where her talents could further His work. 

Mrs. Thacker was predeceased by her loving husband of 61 years, Willie L. Thacker.  She was also predeceased by her loving parents William Kerry and Gracie Williamson Phillips.  She was predeceased by (4) brothers: William Paul (Buster) Phillips), Albert Sidney Phillips, Franklin Delano Phillips, Ruey Phillips; four (4) sisters: June Phillips Meade, Hilda Phillips, Beulah Phillips, Margaret Phillips; and an infant sibling at birth. 

She is survived by a loving daughter Roberta Hayden of Greenup, Kentucky and dedicated son Richard L. Thacker of Greenup, Kentucky; two brothers, Edgar Gene (Dottie) Phillips of Catlettsburg and Zack Phillips of Rush and two sisters, Mildred Justice of Hardy and Billie Justice of Phyllis. She is also survived by five (5) grandchildren:  Kevin (Jennifer) Bowling, Angela (Todd) Eastham, Daniel (Kelly) Thacker, Brandon (Amanda) Miller, and Becca Thacker; eight (8) great-grandchildren: Kierston (Brandon) Eastham Rosen, Kaitlin Eastham, Emily Bowling, Kaden Mahan, Jimmy Miller, Jade Miller, Daniel Thacker II, and Zayden Miller; along with a host of nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Wright’s Funeral Home, Greenup, Kentucky.  A funeral service celebrating the life of Mrs. Thacker will be held the following day on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Wright’s Funeral Home by Mark Day, Minister. Burial will follow in the Brick Union Cemetery in Lloyd. 

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