ALTAMONT FUNERAL FOR LEROY THACKER HELD SATURDAY

Funeral services were held Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Altamont Ward Chapel for LeRoy Thacker, 79, of Altamont who died Thursday of last week in a Roosevelt hospital following a long illness.

He was born January 8, 1891 in Buysville, Wasatch County to Frederick and Sarah Jane Price Thacker. He married Wealtha Osbaorn November 11, 1911 in Milburn, Wyoming. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Mrs. Thacker died January 27, 1962.

Mr. Thacker was a member of the LDS Church. He was an early settler of the Uintah Basin, a musician, farmer, rancher, was custodian of the Altamont High School for 19 years and projectionist of the Altamont Theatre seven years.

Survivors include sons and daughters, Howard Price; Wesley, Mrs. Leland (LaRue) Stevenson, James, all of Altamont; Mrs. Don J. (Stella) Davies, Mrs. Tom (Pattie) Richards, Delma Mayberry, Mrs. Kirk (Lorna) Merkley, all of Salt Lake City; Fred, Hooper; Alton, Orem; Mrs. Claude (Annie Lee) Mathews, Roosevelt; 48 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Leslie, LaMar, Mrs. Ross (Sarah) Case, all of Vernal; Lottie Bell, Jerome, Idaho; Pearl Murdock, Lander, Wyoming; Claude, Kamas.

-Vernal Express, April 9, 1970, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
-------------------
LeRoy Thacker was born January 8, 1891 in Daniels, Utah to Sarah Jane Price and Frederick Albert Thacker . When his mother died he went to live with his Uncle George Price, but later lived with his father and Pearl on the ranch in Wyoming.

There he met Weltha Osborne, daughter of William Volney Osborne and Pattie Taylor, and on November 15, 1911 at the age of twenty, married her. Roy and Weltha made their home in Wyoming for a few years then relocated in the Uintah Basin in Utah. Roy died August 11, 1970, age 79. From their obituaries comes the following information: "They helped pioneer farming and livestock raising in the Altamont area and were an active part of the community and religious life." LeRoy was a musician; custodian Altamont High School 15 years; projectionist Altamont Theatre, seven years." They bought a home in Salt Lake City after he retired from farming and as custodian at Altamont Theatre. They didn't like the city life and spent most of those six years living among the people they knew and loved." LeRoy died in the Roosevelt Hospital.

"A tribute to LeRoy Thacker (written by his children). . . He taught us how to work, and when the work was done, how to enjoy one another in fun and in music.

Father will best be remembered for his music. He and Mother played at countless dances. I remember Mother keeping a diary when World War II was taking our boys by the score. Mother and Daddy played to over 150 boys' farewell parties in one winter. Most always there was more than one boy leaving at the same time, so they would schedule their parties together. They traveled to Altonah, Boneta, Talmage, Bluebell, Upalco, Mt. Home and Mt. Emmons. At first they traveled by buggy or sleigh, when the roads were bad. Later they were able to obtain a car, but when the old car wouldn't go, someone would come and get them to play for the dance. Father never accepted any pay for playing for a dance when the boy was leaving for services or to go on a mission. Father and Mother's music was greatly appreciated. They had many compliments from people who said, 'Oh! how we enjoy the dances you folks play at.'

When Mother died eight years ago, Father never stopped missing her. Though he could be in a crowd of a hundred, he always felt lonesome for her. They lived together fifty years and set an example of love and respect for their children to follow.

They were the first to bring old-time dances into the Basin, when Father brought his fiddle in the wagon box, on top of a spare tire and a chain. It stood the trip in good shape. With his going, I believe so go the old-time dances. I will never hear a Waltz Quadrille, A Virginia Reel, a Polka, or a good old Schottish but what I think of Dad and Mother's music and the fun times we had dancing to it. Not only did they play to dances, but they played mandolin and guitar duets. They used to visit the shut-ins and try to cheer them up by bringing some sunshine into their lives.

Father was a very sympathetic man with a wonderful sense of humor. As he traveled life's highway of hard knocks, he was always concerned for the welfare of his friends and neighbors, and he liked to share his best with them.

When we were all small, things were really rough, but each of us knew that we were loved. We knew if we had any troubles of any kind, we could always count on them to help us. They loved their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren. When Father was left alone, he continued to make visits to his family and they looked forward to each visit. Nothing pleased him more than to have his grandchildren sing him the latest song they had learned, or recite their latest poem for him. This reminded him of the times he taught his own children to sing or play an instrument. Sometimes they were so small they had to stand on a chair so as to be seen by the audience. Father was a hard worker and up until the last few years, he could outdo most men nearly half his age. He took great delight in working in his garden and at the cemetery, where he spent many hours making it a place of beauty.

As we remember our Dad, we think of his enthusiasm for life when he was younger, We think of his veined, tanned hands, creased with time, gently holding one of his grandchildren. May they rest in peace. We take comfort in having had a truly gentle, lovable Father, who was honest, loyal and deeply religious, and who could somehow always find something to laugh about."

Thacker and Fulmer Book by Mary Lou Spaulding

He married Weltha Osborn. Roy and Weltha used to play for the dances in the surrounding areas. Roy played the violin and Weltha the piano. They all went together to the dances. When their first child came along they took the baby with them and he would sleep under a table while they played and danced.