What a Wonderful World

What a Wonderful World Celebration of a Life Well-lived

by Peggy Pleasants Thrasher

Publisher’s note: Peggy, What a lovely tribute to the man who loved you more than life. It showed every time he talked of meeting you, dating you, your accomplishments and truly every time he looked at you. You two have packed a lot of living in your years together. While I know you miss him more than anyone knows what a joy to have had Albert as your husband, partner in life and father to your children. He was loved by many, including my family. On September 13, Peggy and Albert would have celebrated their 60 th Wedding Anniversary.

ASILY[(;OYHZOLY1YSLM[OPZÄUHS^PZOLZ!¸0^V\SKSPRLT`IVK`[VILJYLTH[LK and the ashes interred in the Tiger, Georgia Cemetery to be remembered by laughing and telling some story. This is my remembrance of a note left by a favorite aunt, ‘Do not grieve for me. As death is a part of life, and because I have loved life, I know I shall adore death.’” Al Thrasher would often say what a wonderful life he had and give thanks to God. He was grateful for children, grandchildren, extended families, his church, the Rabun County Senior Center, for being able to live in this beautiful part of the world, for opportunities and experiences that he enjoyed, for friends, employees, bosses, and colleagues. Through any personal experience (good or bad), he gleaned knowledge to apply to future challenges. At one time while struggling with obstacles as he was working on a big community project, he said, “I tried to save the world but the world did not want to be saved!” He did not give up!

He was a very capable person just as his parents, sister, and brother were and his children are. As a Georgia Tech graduate, he was often the businessman who headed up community projects. He worked tirelessly to organize Junior Achievement in Spalding *V\U[`HUKPU[OL.YPMÄU:WHSKPUN*V\U[`:JOVVSZHUKOL^HZ[OLÄYZ[JOHPYTHUVM[OL

United Way to raise $100,000. As president of [OL.YPMÄU:WHSKPUN*OHTILYVM*VTTLYJLOL promoted our city and county. While President VM[OL.YPMÄU9V[HY`*S\IOPZLTWOHZPZ^HZVU awareness of and preventing child abuse. As HU VMÄJLY PU [OL .LVYNPH >PSKSPML -LKLYH[PVU he fought to conserve natural resources, and he taught gun safety courses and marksmanship. He coached youth football and served on [OL .YPMÄU:WHSKPUN 9LJYLH[PVU )VHYK   (Z H MV\UKPUN TLTILY VM [OL .YPMÄU .\U *S\I OL enjoyed competitive shooting for many years into his retirement. But these were not his only interests!

Did he have hobbies? Many of them were HZZVJPH[LK^P[O^H[LYMYVTÄZOPUN[VU\TLYV\Z boats to water skiing to taking his young family out into the Atlantic to observe the launch of an Apollo mission. He loved group boat trips all over the south, through locks and rivers, including a trip of 321 miles on the Ocmulgee and Altamaha rivers. He thoroughly enjoyed snorkeling and scuba diving (and all the equipment required!) and was still talking about another scuba diving trip just before his death. He liked frozen water, also, in the form of snow to enable him to snow ski and have more stuff! He got interested in raising cattle in the early 1970’s and raising corn was a vital part as this required lots of equipment: tractor, corn picker (after a couple of years of the family picking corn!), and many implements.

He enjoyed woodworking (we are proud of lovely furniture he made), working with metals, leather working—especially gun holsters, hand loading ammunition, shooting the “tater gun,” riding motorcycles, buying new lawn mowers for cutting grass “just right,” dressing up in western wear for his Cowboy Action shooting matches, cowboy hats and boots, unusual belts, playing the guitar, photography, backpacking especially on the Appalachian Trail, visiting museums and historical places, reading historical books, dancing, and traveling. When we lived near Indian Springs State Park, he became “Ocmulgee Al,” a stage coach driver, promoting the reopening of the McIntosh Hotel as a historic site.

We had delightful trips to Europe, Alaska, and Peru. We cruised the Danube River and the Caribbean. We traveled across the United States”from sea to shining sea” and north to Alaska and the Arctic Circle. Slide-on campers and RV’s enabled us to travel—often covering a lot of territory! Touring the Australian outback was a thrill as each couple had [OLPYV^UHPYWSHUL[VÅ`MYVTZ[H[PVU[VZ[H[PVU^P[OHUPU[LYLZ[PUNN\PKLPU[OLSLHKWSHUL

He was always eager to tell of his life’s experiences. When a story started with “when I was a little boy” or “when I held a regular job” a long, entertaining story would commence! He was supportive of me and very proud of my accomplishments whether academic, professional, social, or fraternal. As I worked on graduate degrees, he spent many hours on his hobbies and projects. He delighted in calling me “Dr. Peggy”! As I grieve, I am thankful to have shared his life, our children and families, his faith, our friends, and myriad memories.

At the conclusion of his Final Wishes he stated, “At a time and place most convenient, I hope that my family and friends will gather, absent the ashes, to swap stories, laugh, and generally have a grand ole’ time.” Our family and I look forward to that celebration of his life when the COVID-19 threat has passed.

Finally, he requested that “What a Wonderful World” be shared during the celebration of his life.

I see trees of green Red roses too I see them bloom For me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue And clouds of white The bright blessed day The dark sacred night And I think to myself What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow So pretty in the sky Are also on the faces Of people going by I see friends shaking hands Saying, “How do you do?” They’re really saying “I love you”

I hear babies cry I watch them grow They’ll learn much more Than I’ll never know And I think to myself What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself What a wonderful world