JOAN FAYE BRISTER THAYER, 80, of Ranger,
TX, passed from this earthly life on April 28, 2024,
with family by her side to be greeted by her Lord
and Savior and dearly missed loved ones. Joan was
a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,
sister, daughter, aunt, and friend to many.
Joan was born on Oct. 12,1943, in Pasadena, TX to
Lawrence & Cathern Brister. She was the second born
of eight children & was very close with her siblings.
She grew up residing across the country, from the
cotton fields of Missouri, throughout west Texas,
along the Colorado Rockies, "down by the crick" of
Ostrander, Washington, and every where in between,
wherever her dad could find work. She attended
numerous grade schools & Ranger High School for a
short time. Later went on to Imperial Valley College
in Imperial, CA, where she received her cosmetology
license with a 4.0 grade point average. Joan was also
a majority member of the International Order of Job's
Daughters of Bethel 252 in Holtville, CA.
Joan married the love of her life, Skip, in Dec. of
1961, in Winter Haven, CA, at the same time as their
best friends, Kenneth and Mary Boyd. Joan and Skip
were eager to start a family and together had four
beloved children; Bobby, Tonya, and a son & daughter
who passed away at birth. In 1977, they made their
home in Ranger where Joan worked as a beautician at
the salon she owned and had many regular clients.
To be closer to family, they moved back west in 1988,
this time to Las Vegas, NV, where she worked at Bourbon
Street Casino as a floor shift slot supervisor. She &
Skip then moved back to Ranger in 1993, where she spent
much of her time helping raise her grandchildren and
they both resided there until they each passed away.
Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger will be her final resting
place, alongside her husband, mom, and dad.
Joan's home was a haven for family and friends. A fresh
pot of coffee & breakfast were offered daily along with
a friendly debate or two. She loved to paint, read Juile
Garwood novels, dance around the house, and could play
a mean game of both Yahtzee and Spades. She was a "girly-
girl" who loved all things pink and always carried herself
with grace. Joan was one who would cry with you or laugh
till she cried with you. She was a strong advocate for
women's rights & championed equality for all individuals.
Her compassionate concern extended beyond personal circles,
encompassing a genuine care for the welfare of humanity.
She was also agenerous woman that would offer you her last
dollar or hide it away somewhere so you couldn't give it
back. She dreamed of one day taking care of her extended
family's finances and started many sentences with the word
"When I hit the Lotto..." Family was Joan's greatest treasure,
and you would often hear her boasting about her grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. She will forever be remembered for
her infectious laugh and joyful spirit and will be greatly
missed by all who got the opportunity to know and love her.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband Robert "Skip"
Thayer, son baby boy Thayer, daughter baby girl Thayer,
father Lawrence Brister, mother Cathern Brister, brothers
Bob Brister (RHS-1960) and Bill Brister, and nieces Joy
Skierka and Jennifer McCormack.
Joan is survived by son Bobby Thayer and Cheryl of Ranger,
daughter Tonya Thayer Orsini (RHS-1989) and Michael of
Ranger, grandsons Blain Thayer, Pharm D., Tyler Tortomasi,
Senjin Thayer and partner Colby, Mason Thayer and wife
Bryanna, Seth Thayer and fiance Caitlon, Trey Orsini and
partner Jordan, granddaughters Kali Tortomasi and partner
Jeremy, Kalyn McCune and wife Anna, great-grandchildren
Lily, Dusty, Scotlynn, Dasha, Delia, Remy, a baby boy
on-the-way, brothers Ralph Brister and wife Darcy, Grover
Brister and wife Barbara, sisters Linda Allen, Judy
Klingenstein and husband Rollie, Karla McIntire and
husband Mitch, sister-in-law Loretta Brister, nephews
Paul, Brian, Larry, Russell, Joshua, Jack, Jeremy, nieces
Stacie, Lynette, Pamela, Nikki, Tatiana, and numerous
other extended family.