Obituary of Dona Mae Thurman

Funeral Services for Dona Mae Thurman of Troy, MO, formerly of Elsberry, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Tom Zych, pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, will officiate with inurnment to follow at a later date in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Dona Hunter, Billy Thoelke, Tommy Thoelke, Chris Thurman, Shawn Bruning, Frankie Hunter, Jeff Damron and Steve Damron. Mrs. Thurman, 73, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at Troy Manor in Troy, MO. Born November 4, 1934 in Elsberry, she was the daughter of Noah Robert and Minnie Lee Lawson Damron. She was united in marriage on February 23, 1952 in Elsberry, to Howard Eugene Thurman, Sr. She worked for several years as a waitress. Mrs. Thurman was a member of the Smith Chapel United Methodist Church near Elsberry. She was preceded in death by her parents, Noah and Minnie Damron; four sisters: Alma Richards, Laura Emerick, Helen Terry and Evelyn Briscoe; one grandson, Jason Ray Damron; one son-in-law, Ezra Lee Hunter; and two daughters: Donna Kaye Thoelke and Cedella Lee Harding. Survivors include her beloved husband of 56 years, Howard Thurman, Sr. of Troy; two sons: Howard "Buster" Thurman, Jr. of Hawk Point, and Ray Damron and his wife, Gloria, of Boise City, OK; three daughters: Wilma Bruning and her husband, Neal, of Bellflower, MO, Debbie Hunter of Louisiana, MO and Patricia Hunter of Curryville, MO; sixteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren. She also leaves one brother, Norman "Bud" Damron of Troy; one sister, J ean Rogers of O'Fallon, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday, July 5, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to AmHeart Hospice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.