Obituary of Mary Willena Kurfman

Mary Kurfman Funeral Services for Mary Willena Kurfman of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. John Zellmer, pastor of the New Hope Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Kurfman, Jr., Christopher "C.J." Cohea, Shawn Sims, Matthew "Kip" Kurfman, Jeremy Barron and Rodney Motley; and honorary pallbearers will be James Kurfman, Tucker Ramshaw and Gordon "Butch" Hillman. Mrs. Kurfman, 91, passed away Saturday morning, February 21, 2015 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry. Born July 6, 1923 near Elsberry, she was the daughter of Roy Wilkinson and Lou Altha Ellis Mayes. A lifelong resident of Elsberry, Mary was a 1941 graduate of Elsberry High School. She earned her Associates Degree from Lindenwood College and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Kirksville Teachers College. Her first teaching position was in the Silex School District. Mary taught 7th and 8th Grade Art and Social Studies in the Elsberry School District for 22 years, retiring in 1965. She was united in marriage on January 22, 1967 in Wood River, IL to Wayne Kurfman. This union was blessed with one son, Brian Wayne. Mary was the great granddaughter of William L. Elsberry and a cousin of Ida Cannon. She was a member and past president of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AI in Elsberry, and a former member of the DNC Club in Elsberry. Mary was a long-time member of the Elsberry First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Altha Mayes; and an infant sister. Survivors include her beloved husband of 48 years, Wayne Kurfman of Elsberry; one son, Brian Kurfman and his wife, Lori, of Elsberry; four grandchildren: Trista Dawn Cohea and her husband, C.J. of Perry, IA. Brian Wayne Kurfman, Jr. of Elsberry; Breanna Michelle Kurfman of Kansas City, KS and James Raymond Kurfman of Elsberry; and three great-grandchildren: Tucker James Ramshaw, Mykyra Miracle Pike and Ahryn Willena Cohea. She also leaves several cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2015 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Charity of the Donor's Choice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.