Jimmy Don Thurber

STILWELL, OK_ Funeral services for Jimmy Don Thurber will be held on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 at Caney Chapel in Caney Cemetery with Pastor John Waltrip of Gospel Tabernacle officiating. Interment will follow at Caney Cemetery. Visitation for Jimmy will be Monday, May 16th, 2011 from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Services have been entrusted to Reed- Culver Funeral Home.

Pallbearers for Jimmy Thurber include Charles Woodward, Billy Gibson, Brendan Vaughn, Danny Brannon, Tony Jones, and Ernie Scott. Honorary pallbearers are Albert Leach and Johnathan Limore. Flower Girls for his services include his nieces, Candice Vann, Holly Jones, Joni Walema, Gayla Jones, Alisha Thurber, and Kate Neugin.

Jimmy Don Thurber was born on February 28, 1960 in Stilwell, OK the son of Leonard and Betty (Woods) Thurber. He graduated from Cave Springs School. Jimmy was a farmer by profession and any day spent outdoors was a good day. Jimmy was a world champion coon hunter and excelled in training all breeds of dogs for competitions. He was a member of the Western English Coon Hound Association and a founder of the Illinois River Coon Hunters Association. Jimmy liked fishing, or riding mules on a trail ride. He was happy just to be near his family for dinner and conversation. You could count on Jimmy to make your day with a smile. Cheerful and upbeat, Jimmy was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed one. A Christian by faith, Jimmy was a member of the Gospel Tabernacle . The Lord called Jimmy to his eternal home on Friday, May 13th, 2011 at his home with his family by his side. He was 51 years old. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, Elmer Thurber, Ira Woods, and Mabel Bowls, and his first wife, Joann Gatewood-Thurber.

Those left to cherish his memory include his son and daughters, April Webb and husband Billy of Stilwell, Amber Smith of Okay, OK, and Wyatt Thurber of Okay, OK. Jimmy is also survived by his five brothers and two sisters, Gayla Limore of Ft. Smith, AR, David Thurber and wife Jan of Stilwell, Loyd Thurber and wife Georgia of Stilwell, Elmer Thurber and wife Retha of Stilwell, Annah Jones and husband Tony of Stilwell, and Rocky Neugin and wife Jennifer of Tahlequah, OK as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.