August 13, 1958 – November 2, 2022
Photo Credit to Girdner Funeral Chapel
Our beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, Scott, returned to his heavenly home on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 following an ongoing battle with cancer. His family was by his side. Scott was born August 13, 1958, in Ogden, Utah to D. Roy and Theta Thackeray. He was the third child, joining brother Lynn, and sister Janene, with brother Dale soon following.
Scott was raised in beautiful Scott Valley on the family ranch. He considered himself fortunate to grow up surrounded by many uncles, aunts, and cousins, where he learned at a young age the value of hard work. Working and playing alongside them shaped him into the man he became. His life was one of constant labor and effort devoted to serving his family, his community, and his Heavenly Father.
He developed an early love for ranching, horses, cattle, and the land, a love that continued throughout his life. He also had a great passion and talent for sports and became an excellent athlete in basketball and baseball. He enjoyed spending summers hauling hay with his friends, the old-fashioned way, for local ranches. Scott graduated from Etna High School in 1976. After high school, he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Columbus, Ohio mission. Following his mission, he returned to Scott Valley and went to work on the Crystal Creek family ranch. It was at a town team basketball game that he met and fell in love with Barbara Berry, who would become his eternal companion. They were sealed for eternity in the Oakland California Temple on May 30, 1984 and made their home in Etna, California. Through nearly forty years of marriage, they raised six children: Jillian, Mitchell, Tracy, Tandy, Wade, and Troy.
In his later years, Scott served on the board of the Siskiyou Cattlemen's Association. He enjoyed playing town team basketball and roping competitively with the Scott Valley Roping Club. Scott had a strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many leadership positions.
Scott was deeply devoted to his family and passed on the value of the importance of working hard. Scott had a special relationship with each of his children who loved him dearly. They had the special opportunity to spend abundant one-on-one time with him working on the ranch, moving and feeding cattle, calving cows, riding the ranges, building fences, branding cows, changing water, and many other undertakings. Providing and caring for them was always his top priority. He was often found standing at the baseline of the gym or out on the field in support of their various athletic endeavors.
Scott had an immense love and appreciation for good cow horses and horsemanship—spending many hours in the saddle, riding for the brand. He loved cattle ranching and would spend every day from sunrise to sunset working hard. Ranching wasn’t just an occupation for Scott, he loved his work and enjoyed almost every aspect. He worked for multiple cattle ranches for the last forty years, including Crystal Creek Ranch, Smith Brothers Ranch, and most recently as manager at the AP Cattle Company.
Scott represented pride, duty, stewardship, loyalty, dedication, and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his children, Jillian, Mitchell, Tracy, Tandy, Wade (Danielle), Troy; his siblings, Lynn Thackeray (Susan), Janene Thackeray Tanner, Dale Thackeray (Alana); and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Scott’s name to Scott Valley Scholarships or the Asante Foundation in honor of Miles Isbell, who was an inspiration to Scott throughout his battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 233 N. Highway 3, Etna, CA 96027, burial and dinner to follow. All are invited to attend.
