Mr. James F. "Jim" Thrasher, 70 of Lake City, passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017 at the Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City.  He was born in Fort Payne, Alabama to the late Nona B. and Gaston Falls Thrasher.  Mr. Thrasher was a graduate of Columbia High School class of 1964.  He retired as the Operations Sergeant Major in 1996 after 29 ½ years of service with the United States Army and the Florida National Guard having served with the 83rd Troop Command.  Mr. Thrasher also worked with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement from 2002-2011 serving as an Administrative Assistant in the Live Oak Field Office and he was also the Veteran's Service Officer for Columbia County from 2012-2015.  He was a member of Wellborn Baptist Church, the Sons of the American Revolution Lake City Chapter serving as a color guard member and President from 2011-2012, and he was an avid Alabama fan.  Mr. Thrasher was preceded in death by one brother, Joe Leonard Thrasher.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Mary Howell Thrasher, Lake City; two sons, John Thrasher and wife Teresa of Lake City and Alan Raulerson and wife Stacy of Ft. Myers; two daughters, Traci Norris and husband Anthony and Sherri Lee and husband Don all of Lake City; one niece, Joella Cupit and husband Ken, Liberty, MS; nine grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with Pastor Rusty Bryan of Wellborn Baptist Church officiating and assisted by Mr. Dwight Law.  Interment will follow at Mt. Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Wellborn.  Visitation with the family will be from 5-7:00 PM Tuesday evening at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center at 6037 W US Hwy 90, Lake City, FL 32055 or the Wellborn Baptist Church Missions Fund at P.O. Box 228, Wellborn, FL 32094.