Louis C. Thayer

Age 72, passed away on August 10, 2012, after living with Cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct cancer, since May 2010. His loving family was at his side. Lou was born in Wolbach, NE, on August 24, 1939, to Clarence and Agnes Thayer. Lou received a B.S. in Physical Science and Mathematics from Nebraska State College at Kearney. He taught mathematics in the Overton Public Schools in Nebraska for a year before becoming a science teacher in the Grand Island Publics schools for two years. He received his Masters Degree in Counseling & Guidance from Nebraska State College at Kearney, and then completed a Post Masters Fellowship at the National Defense Education Act Institute at the University of Illinois. From 1964-1966, Lou served as a guidance counselor and teacher for the Department of Defense for the overseas dependent schools in Wurzburg, Germany. Upon returning from Germany, Lou launched into a doctoral program in Counseling/Psychology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. On August 23, 1969, Lou married Lois Jeanne Weber from Bloomington, IL and moved to Ypsilanti, MI. After receiving his doctorate in 1970, Lou began his 35 year tenure as a professor at Eastern Michigan University in the Department of Leadership and Counseling. Lou was known for his experiential learning techniques including T’ai Chi Ch’aun exercises, playing music in class, storytelling, and encouraging students to embrace their own unique path by having them develop their own experience modules. Of special note, Lou spent a year post-doctorate studying the Person-Centered Approach with Carl R. Rogers as a visiting fellow at Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, CA. Lou’s professional memberships included the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, of which he served as president for a year, the Michigan Counseling Association, Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach, Counseling Association for Humanistic Education and Development, and Phi Delta Kappa. He was also an active participant in the Michigan Association for Humanistic Education and Development including writing articles for their newsletters. He was a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan and a National Certified Counselor. Lou’s many passions included his family, meaningful friendships, teaching, hobbies, and the learning process in which he was endlessly involved. Lou cherished the 39 years of marriage to his wonderful wife, Jeanne, before her passing in 2008. He enjoyed loving and supportive relationships with his daughters, Alison, his Wonder Woman, and Shannon, his Hero. He also found joy in the special relationship he formed with his son-in-law, Jorge. His granddaughter, Shiloh Jeanne, was the light of his life and for over two years he received “Shiloh Therapy” every day, and there is no equal to the love he had for that little girl. Lou’s other passions included woodcarving in Frankenmuth and with the Saline Woodcarvers Club, watching Nebraska football, practicing T’ai Chi Ch’uan, enjoying Southwest art, turquoises stones, Native American culture, old westerns, and reading about everything from Kachina dolls to cowboy pistols to Zen philosophy. He also loved learning about friends’ interests and surprising them with a book or special item that he picked up just for them. Further interests included old classic antique cars, farming, traveling, estate sale shopping on the phone with his sister in Nebraska, having a cup of coffee with friends at the Drowsy Parrot, creating opportunities for his daughters to learn and enjoy rich life experiences, and reading to his granddaughter. Lou was known for his piles of books and papers, and somehow still knew the location of every last paper he ever had. Lou will be remembered and missed for his accurate and humble wisdom, his quiet and ever-present strength, and most of all for how he made people feel just by being in his presence. He is loved and respected by numbers too great to count and will be remembered as one of the great ones. Lou is survived by his daughters, Alison (Jorge) Laura Livingston and Shannon Julia Thayer; his granddaughter, Shiloh Jeanne Livingston; his sister, Clarice Elliott (Ted Price) of Omaha, NE; his sister-in-laws, Sandy Bumpus of Bloomington, IL, Debbie (Steve) Mesner of Lincoln, IL, and his brother-in-law, Steve (Patty) Weber of North Bend, WA. A “Coffee with Lou” will be held in his honor on Saturday, September 1, 2012, from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Drowsy Parrot in downtown Saline, MI. Casual attire. Lou received wonderful care at the University of Michigan Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to one of the following: University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, UMHS Office of Medical Development, 1000 Oakbrook, Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, or the Louis C. Thayer Endowed Scholarship at Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University Foundation, P.O. Box 972057, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Cremation has taken place. A special “thank you” for the support, thoughts, love, and shared memories of Lou. He was a very special dad. Arrangements entrusted to the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home of Saline. To leave a memory or for more information please visit www.rbfhsaline.com.

Tributes

Louis C. Thayer

August 24, 1939 - August 10, 2012