LaJoy Thackerson, 89, of Abilene died Sunday, July 25, 2021 in an Abilene nursing home. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at Elmwood Memorial Park with Jeff Bell officiating under the direction of Bailey Howard Funeral Home of Clyde. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

LaJoy was born April 3, 1932 in Soper, Oklahoma to Hubert Wesley and Cleo Irene (Ferguson) Fennell. She graduated from Soper High School. After graduation she moved to Abilene and attended and graduated from Draughon's Business College. She married Bill Lester in 1949 in  Abilene. She worked as a bookkeeper for New York Life, Merchants and Davis, Kinard & Co. After she retired, she became a self-employed bookkeeper, helping many people, including her son Don, until a month before her death.

She married Clyde Thackerson in Las Vegas on May 15, 1988. LaJoy was a member of the Methodist Church and an avid bridge player at the Rose Park Senior Citizens Center. She loved music and played the guitar, piano, organ and mandolin, to name a few. She also loved square dancing and owned and operated Calico Square in Abilene in the 80's.

She is survived by two sons, Don Lester and wife Sharon of Clyde and Terry Lester and wife Penny of McGregor; three stepchildren, Clyde Thackerson, Jr., James Thackerson and Karen Haskins; 14 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and two bonus grandchildren.

LaJoy was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde; her son, Richard Lester; two sisters, Maxine Graham and Mary Price and her brother, Phillip Fennell.