03/31/2026
Mr. William Boyd Thrasher, 72, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, at The Carrington in Starkville, MS. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 1st, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Joel Britt and Rev. Frank Keeton officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Boyd was born February 22, 1954, in Louisville, MS. He was the oldest son of James and Shirley Robertson Thrasher. He moved to Starkville in 1962 and it was home to him. He lived some in Baton Rouge and loved visiting there. He married the love of his life, Debra Kitchens-Thrasher, on December 2, 1971. Boyd and Debra shared a love of riding motorcycles. They even dated on one. He loved to cook and did most of the cooking at home. He passed this gift on to his sons and at least one grandson. He was a meat cutter and a Class A certified welder, and worked for many years at Taylor Machine Works. There was no job that he wouldn’t do to feed his family. He was big talker and very jolly. He was a hard-working man and took his responsibility of providing for his family seriously. He always appreciated his daughters-in-law, Michelle and Kristy, as they were the daughters that he never had. When the grandchildren came, he loved them all. Debra and Boyd prayed for them all a lot. When he found out that his first great grandson was having problems, he prayed every night for his well-being. When Gunner was born at 2 lbs. 14 oz., he thanked God. Gunner was the miracle baby and a gift from God. His family and friends meant the world to him. He would help them anyway he could. If he could talk to you, this is what he would say: “Put God first, put you family next to God, read you Bible, work hard and take care of your family.” He loves you and hopes to see you again one day.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Marty Davis Thrasher.
He is survived by two sons, William (Michelle) Thrasher, Jr. of Starkville, MS, and Brian (Kristy) Thrasher of Hulka, MS; three sisters, Mary Alice (Frank) Keeton of Ackerman, Kathy (David) Wentworth of Memphis, MO, and Barbara (Jerry) Reitz of Pryor, OK; five grandchildren, Joseph (Stephanie) Thrasher, William (Geanalynn) Thrasher, Shanna (Austin) Williams, Conner Thrasher, and Reagan Thrasher; three great grandchildren, Gunner Smith, Victor Brown, and Mira Thrasher; and he had 7 nieces and 4 nephews.
Sometimes the road you travel doesn’t lead to the destination that you had hoped for. But if you can look back on the trip and still smile, then it was worth it.
Memorials in Boyd’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
To sign the guestbook, please go to www.porterfuneralhome.net