Obituary of Donnie Lee and Doris June Thatcher

The Shipman and Thompson Families are sadden to share the passing of their parents Doris June (Brumit) Thatcher and Donnie Lee Thatcher. On April 7, 2019 Doris June (Brumit) Thatcher passed away surrounded by her family. Nine months later on January 15, 2021 Donnie “Don” Lee Thatcher passed away peacefully and Mom said “Well Donnie it’s about time, what took you so long.”

Don was born in Kansas and when he turned 18 enlisted in the Navy. After his honorable discharge he moved to Spreckels to live with his sister Lavon Dotson and brother-in-law Darrel Dotson. This is where he met his first wife Patricia. They had a daughter Terry Lynn Thatcher and a son Paul Lesley Thatcher. After divorcing he met Doris and Jaime. Doris was divorced from David Auld who together they had a daughter Jaime Auld. It was always a joke that Don got together with Doris because of Jaime who he raised as if she were his own. Don went to work for Nestlé’s for 35 years and retired. He loved sports and played on the Nestle softball team for years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, family BBQ’s, traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren/great-grandchildren.

Doris was one of 12 children. Her dad passed away when she was 10 months, and her mom passed when she was just 4years old. She was sent from Illinois to California to live with her oldest brother and his wife who raised her. Doris worked in the packing sheds for years. She met Don in 1970 and they married on May 20, 1971 and spent the next 47 years together. Soon after, she became a homemaker and then started babysitting. Everyone knew her as “Nana”. Together they loved camping, traveling to Illinois and Kansas to visit their families and trips to Reno. While their home was humble, the love they had for their children and grandchildren/great-grandchildren was selflessness. The grandchildren loved to go to Nanas because she let them have and do whatever they wanted.
 

They were preceded in death by their parents and many siblings and Don’s only son Paul Thatcher. Together, they leave behind their daughter’s Terry (Thatcher) Thompson (Steve) and Jaime (Auld) Shipman (Dave), Granddaughters Stephanie (Thompson) Susidko (Kyle), Danielle Shipman, Samantha (Thompson) Paris (Josh), Jessica (Shipman) Velasquez (Koby) and Kaitlin Shipman, their great grandchildren Austin and Peyton Susidko, Madisyn Paris, Karter and Jameson Velasquez and Braelynn Ralston. Their loss is felt by many other family and friends. They will be greatly missed.
 

Doris and Don will be laid to rest together at the California Veterans Cemetery in Seaside. A private family service will be held.