The SERVICE for Mrs. Thayer will be held at Hill and Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri
at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2016.

VISITATION will be held at the funeral home preceding the service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

INTERMENT will be at the Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri.

Mary's wishes were that any MEMORIAL donations be made to the Navigators, and may be sent to the funeral home.

Mary Irene (Lawson) Thayer , 83, of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, was born May 12, 1933 in Appleton City, Missouri, the daughter of Cleveland B. and Julia W. (DeWeese) Lawson.  She departed this life August 15, 2016 in rural Appleton City.

Mary grew up in Appleton City, attending Central Missouri State College at Warrensburg, where she studied business.  Mary and William Deane Thayer, her husband of 51 years, were married on September 21, 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia. They were blessed with three children: Tim, David, and Becky.  Bill passed away in October 2014.

Mary enjoyed her childhood on the farm in rural Appleton City and passed on that heritage to her family.  There were many chickens, guineas, ducks, cows, sheep, cats and dogs that received her love and attention.  Mary's greatest love, however, was for her Saviour that changed her life as she accepted his free gift of salvation that day on the farm.  From then on Mary's life and testimony was to serve Him.  She was always willing to share His love to anyone that was hurting, hungry, lonely, or just needed a friend.  Christian Fellowship Church and the Navigators were an important part of her life.  She had been a faithful member of both, choosing the verse which was her testimony for Christ: Colossians 2:7, "rooted and built up in Him, stablished in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." During her lifetime of being a devoted wife and mother, she spent countless hours helping her children with 4-H projects and guiding their steps toward adulthood.  Mary and William were part of the 2:7 Bible Study and the International Student Ministry at CFC.  Through the years she had led many women's Bible studies in the community. If you knew Mary, you can be sure she prayed for you.

Preceding Mary in death were her parents, her husband, a brother John Lawson; sister Jeanette Fairburn; sisters-in-law: Louise Lawson and Imojeane Lawson; brothers-in-law Bob O'Reilly, Bill Fairburn and Willard Brewer.  Survivors include her three children: Timothy Deane Thayer (Barbara) Wilson, North Carolina, David Lawson Thayer (Cheryl) of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Rebecca Dianne Lipskoch (Les) of Mt. Vernon, Indiana; her grandchildren: Connor D, Brittany C. and Quentin E. Thayer, Paul W.,  David C. and Hannah Joy Thayer, CaSaundra K. Nathan L., Alisha M., Branden D., Joel C., and Kimberly D. Lipskoch; her siblings: Helen Romero (Harold) of Costa Mesa, California, Clyde Lawson (Selva) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mabel Brewer of Appleton City, Missouri, Lou Choat (Ken) of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Robert Lawson (Janice) of Ames, Iowa; one sister-in-law Janet O'Reilly of Boston, Massachusetts; along with numerous nieces and nephews.