Wanda Allison Jones Thacker, age 61, passed away peacefully at her home in Irvine on Monday July 27,2026.

Wanda was preceded in death by:

Her husband, Carl Thacker

Her parents, Wallace and Gail Jones

A sister, Carol Ethel Jones Johnson

A brother, Wallace Harlan Jones

And her nephew Wesley Johnson

She is survived by:

Two sons;

Carl Dewayne Thacker & Anthony Charles Thacker

Two sisters;

Tammie and husband Bryan Thomas

Loretta Jones Rice

Nephews;

Frank Johnson

Noah and wife Jordan Thomas

Isaac and fiance Baylie (Riddell) Thomas

A whole host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins

Wanda was a graduate of the Estill County Highschool, Class of 1983, of which she was quite proud.

I am under strict orders, in writing this, not to make Wanda into a saint. She was not. However, she wasn’t the devil either. If you knew Wanda, then you already know that she was a bit of both. What she was at her core, was humble. Humility was just sort of who she was. If she had it and you didn’t, then both of you had half of whatever “it” was. Do her bad, take from her, talk about her, whatever, and ten

minutes later, you were forgiven. Do her family wrong, the people that she cared the most about, then you were going to have issues. That’s when you’d truly get to meet her bad side. That part of who Wanda was, luckily, didn’t have to make too many appearances.

She loved you. With her whole heart, she loved you. Maybe she was mad at you for something? That’s okay because it wouldn’t last and she loved you anyway. There would be a hug waiting at the next meet up. Forever hugging; family, friends, friends of friends, perfect strangers she just met at the Dollar General, random old lady at Walmart. She had them banked up and ready to give out.

She couldn’t hold a grudge if her life depended on it; which completely baffled her mom and sisters. Those same sisters told the staff to be sure to tuck the tail of her skirt into her underwear.

Wanting to help with kindness was just part of Wanda. Her door, or kitchen, was never closed to anybody. She was willing to share just about anything and everything she had. Especially with someone she thought might need it. She’d feed anybody. That’s not to say that they might have to prepare it for themselves and be sure to fix enough for the both of them, and “While you’re doing that, I’m so thirsty. Brang me something to drank.”

The simplest things in life were her “Happy Place”. Her boys. Hugs. When the boys were little, digging fishing worms. She taught them that they were in “Worm School” and worm school was serious business. Strawberry Kool Aid, pajamas, a comfortable sundress, more hugs, whatever you were having for dinner except rice, and just being with Loretta and Tammie.

Her “Happy Place” things speak volumes to Wanda’s humility. Like I said, the simplest things in life. She, nor none of her sisters, ever claimed to have only their children. Ask any of them how many kids they had and they would say five. They all claim all of the boys as their own. For her, the “most precious gem” was those boys. Any and all of them. If CD had an accomplishment, she would be bursting at the seams with pride. If it were Frank, Wes, Noah or Isaac, you’d be very hard pressed to see a distinction, because there wasn’t one. Any or all of their accomplishments were of equal cause for celebration to her. She loved each and every one of them so big that she just couldn’t contain it. Therefore, hugs…

Visitation will be held on Thursday July 30, 2026 at 6:00pm-8:00pm at Lewis Funeral Home of Irvine. Funeral services will be Friday July 31, 2026 at 11:00am burial will be in Pearidge Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lewis Funeral Home of Irvine.