Barry Thayer

Barry Dean Thayer, 60, of Silver Lake, Kansas, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.

He was born April 26, 1963, in Hebron, Nebraska, the son of Mervin and Ramona (Bohling) Thayer. He graduated from Ruskin High School in 1981.

Barry married Janet Thayer on July 3, 1992, in Belleville, Kansas. They welcomed two children, Kayla and Travis.

Barry was employed by Coca-Cola Industries as a route driver in Topeka for nearly 30 years.

He was a member of the Silver Lake United Methodist Church.

Barry was an avid Nebraska football fan and enjoyed attending and watching games with his family. He enjoyed all sports, but his favorite was watching and coaching his children in sports as they grew up. Later in life, as the children grew up, his children became coaches themselves and Barry was their biggest cheerleader. He didn’t have a problem giving his opinion on his children’s coaching techniques, but that is the way he showed he cared.

He also enjoyed being outdoors fishing and hunting. He owned a Camaro and Mustang and took pride in working on and driving them. He collected Coca-Cola memorabilia, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. Nascar collectives and football and baseball trading cards. He was fascinated by trains and the fact that they were all connected and you could get anywhere across the country by following them.

Barry loved his family and took advantage of all the time he got to spend with them, especially his grandson, Kooper, who was the light of his life. Barry didn’t know a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He claimed to know the way of the roads and never relied on GPS. No matter the distance, he would be the one behind the wheel.

He leaves behind his wife, Janet Thayer of Silver Lake, Kansas; his children, Kayla Thayer of Silver Lake, and Travis (Ariele) Thayer of Bel Aire, Kansas; grandson, Kooper Thayer; his father, Mervin Thayer of Ruskin, Nebraska; and siblings, Jeff Thayer of Fairfield, Nebraska, Pat Boss of Davenport, Nebraska, Kathy (Jay) Ross and Michelle (Chris) Peterson of Superior, Nebraska and Michael Thayer of Grand Island, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ramona Thayer; and sisters, Carolyn Thayer and Jerilyn Thayer; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Boss.

His family greeted relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m.on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at Parker Price Funeral Home, Topeka, Kansas. His funeral was at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 at the Silver Lake First Baptist Church, Silver Lake, Kansas.

His family will have a private graveside at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thayer family for an educational fund for his grandson, Kooper Thayer.