Obituary of Howard Eugene Thurman

Funeral Services for Howard Eugene Thurman, Sr. of Troy, MO, formerly of Elsberry, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2008 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Bill Haffner, Chaplain of Troy Manor, will officiate with inurnment to follow at a later date in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Wilma Jean Bruning, Shawn Bruning, Robert Wallace, Matt Hunter, Frankie Hunter and Chris Thurman. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be Robert Calvin. Mr. Thurman, 79, passed away Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at Troy Manor in Troy, MO. Born November 19, 1928 in Pilot Knob, MO, he was the son of Noah Ozaro and Florence Irene Jenkins Thurman. He was united in marriage on February 23, 1952 in Elsberry, to Dona Mae Damron. He worked for several years as a truck driver at Magruder Limestone. He was preceded in death by his parents, Noah and Florence Thurman; one sister, Bonnie Damron; one brother, Russell Thurman; one grandson, Jason Ray Damron; one son-in-law, Ezra Lee Hunter; two daughters: Donna Kaye Thoelke and Cedella Lee Harding; and his beloved wife of 56 years, Dona Thurman, who died July 2, 2008. Survivors include his 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, Neil, of Bellflower, MO, Debbie Hunter of Louisiana, MO and Patricia Thurman of Curryville, MO; nineteen grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves two sisters: Kathryn Orr and her husband, Bob, of Oakland, AR, and Margaret Couch of Sunrise Beach, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, August 15, 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.