Notes:

Death Notice:

Thatcher, Joyce Pertl 79. College Station. Died September 26. Visitation: 9am; Funeral Service: 10am on Sept. 30. Hillier of COLLEGE STATION

(Published in The Eagle on September 28, 2023)



Obituary:

Joyce Pertl Thatcher passed away peacefully in her sleep at home next to her beloved husband, Scott, of 52 years, at the age of 79.

Joyce was born on November 19, 1943, at home on the family farm in Caldwell to Stanley and Annie (Sebesta) Pertl. She grew up in a Czech family with five siblings: Clarence, Melvin, Stanley, Naomi and her twin brother, Joel.

Joyce spent her childhood becoming familiar with the farm life. Although it wasn't her ideal chore, on hot days, she would help pick cotton in the fields filling the heavy cotton sack. She loved gathering the eggs out of the chicken coup and would hide them under the bed to avoid them being crushed by her twin brother, who might have gotten a little rambunctious here and there. Her very favorite thing to do would be to crawl up and take a nap next to her Grandma Sebesta, who she would translate for Czech to English when they would go into town.

Joyce was a charter member of First Assembly of God in Caldwell, Texas and would become the church pianist where she would have many requests to play hymns, specifically Mansion Over the Hilltop, and sing with her brother, Joel.

Joyce graduated from Caldwell High School in 1962 and was employed by the local drug store in Bryan. She eventually went to work for the Tectonophysics Department at Texas A&M University. She was used as an advertising model for a few publications within the department she worked for. Her firstborn, Jeff, blessed her life in 1967. On a fun night out with her friends in 1969, she caught the eye of a handsome young man in a lime green Barracuda that pulled up next to the green Maverick that Joyce was in. It was then that Scott Thatcher told his buddy, "I'm going to marry that girl". After an innocent chase through town, Scott eventually met Joyce and they started dating. During their courtship, Scott joined the Air Force and left for basic training in San Antonio and received orders to be stationed in San Bernardino, California. Upon receiving a 1 week leave, Scott called Joyce and told her that he was coming back to marry her and they married on August 11, 1971 and left for San Bernardino the next day. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1972, Scott and Joyce left California to begin their life in Texas.

Joyce once again secured a job with the Texas A&M University system working for the Vice President of Student Affairs. Scott and Joyce welcomed their first daughter, Alise in 1976, their second daughter, Kristal, in 1978 and their surprise baby girl, Jana in 1979. Joyce finally made the decision to become a homemaker, running the daily affairs of managing her bustling household. She taught music at Calvary Baptist Church for elementary students, led neighborhood bible lessons at the community park for the neighborhood friends and was involved as a Missionette teacher at College Heights Assembly of God in Bryan. Joyce was PTA room mom for all her children and supported her girls through all the years of cheer, dance and school functions. She loved attending a weekly ladies Bible Study and lunch with her friends. She gained two sons-in-law when Alise married Brad Levens and Kristal married Kevin Beachy. Joyce became a grandmother in 2003 when her first grandson, Braeden, was born. Her love for her grandchildren was multiplied by 5 when Danica, Landon, Carter, Brenham and Adaline were born. Her grandkids were the joy of her life. She was a dedicated caregiver of her diabetic son, Jeff and definitely knew how to care for him better than any physician.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Annie (Sebesta) Pertl, her siblings: Clarence, Melvin, Stanley, Naomi (Pertl) Rathjen and Joel Pertl and her son, Jeffrey Todd Thatcher. She is survived by her husband, Scott Thatcher, her daughters Alise (Thatcher) Levens and spouse Brad Levens, Kristal (Thatcher) Beachy and spouse Kevin Beachy, Jana Thatcher, and her grandchildren, Braeden Levens, Landon Levens, Danica Beachy, Carter Beachy, Brenham Beachy and Adaline Beachy.

(Published by Hillier Funeral Home of College Station, TX)

Joyce married Curtis Gene Schultz 26 Oct 1963; divorced 6 Mar 1969, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Curtis was born 3 Jul 1944, Lyons, Burleson County, Texas, USA; died 20 May 2016, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

Joyce married S.P. Thatcher [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

Jeffery Todd Thatcher, 54, of Bryan, went to be with Jesus on June 9, 2022.

Jeff was a big-hearted, loyal, and playful man who was always teasing his sisters, nieces, and nephews and got a good laugh out of someone falling for his jokes. He grew up in Bryan, Texas and graduated from Bryan High School in 1987. During his teen and young adult years, he worked as an auto mechanic with his dad and his favorite past-time was driving around in his Little Red Express Truck. As he got older, he always dreamed about restoring an '81 Toyota 4-wheel drive. Jeff was a die-hard NASCAR fan and had an extensive collection of NASCAR die-cast cars, hot wheels, and RC cars, as well as NASCAR shirts and hats. He could tell you the name of every NASCAR driver and their car number.

Jeff knew that Jesus loved him so much and brought him through many hardships in his life. Diagnosed with Type I Juvenile Diabetes at the tender age of one year-old, one of the greatest days of his life was receiving the news that he would be the recipient of a pancreas and kidney from a donor match. He ultimately was able to share many more years with his family and friends, thanks to the generosity of the organ donor.

Jeffery is reunited with his Grandma and Grandpa Pertl and Grandma and Grandpa Thatcher. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Joyce Thatcher; siblings, Alise Levens and husband Brad, Kristal Beachy and husband Kevin, and Jana Thatcher. He is also survived by the nieces and nephews he loved so much, Braeden and Landon Levens, and Danica, Carter, Brenham, and Adaline Beachy.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Jeff by making a donation to one of the following foundations below.

(Published by Hillier Funeral Home of College Station, TX)

A.R. married B.D. Levens [Group Sheet]

K.D. married K.W. Beachy [Group Sheet]