Marilyn Adams Thurman

Marilyn Adams Hatchett Thurman, 95, was called home in her sleep by our Lord Jesus early in the morning of January 30, 2019. She was looking forward to seeing her grandparents and family and also her husband, Carl Greene Thurman who passed three years ago at the age of 103.

She was born in New Braunfels, Texas, on November 7th, 1923. She was the oldest daughter of Harold William Adams and Leonie Zipp Adams. Marilyn was a descendant of the first families that settled in New Braunfels from Germany in 1846. She spent her happy childhood in New Braunfels with a large extended family and later returned there in her retirement.

Marilyn married John Gilbert Hatchett on March 26, 1949 and they lived many happy years in Dallas where they raised two daughters, Nancy and Kay. They were both successful in managing the Dale Carnegie Sales Course for the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Their love affair lasted 37 years until his passing in 1987.

Marilyn enjoyed working for Baker, Knapp & Tubbs for 22 years and opened the Houston showroom at the Decorative Center in 1974 where she successfully managed the showroom until her retirement on December 31, 1991.

After her retirement Marilyn moved from Houston to her hometown of New Braunfels. She was introduced to Carl Thurman by her brother-in-law, Ralph Brummett. They married on October 4, 1998 and enjoyed 17 wonderful years of marriage. They were fortunate to be able to travel many places in the United States and abroad. Marilyn enjoyed being a member of the First Protestant Church of New Braunfels, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, New Braunfels Garden Club and the Gay Forties, as well as being a docent at The Heritage Village.

Marilyn is survived by her sister, Jane Brummett, daughters Nancy Cederberg (Bob) and Kay Willis (Rick). She was beloved “Grandmommy” to her grandchildren, Kelly Grey, Lauren Reed (Keith), Jennifer Melson (Jed), Kristen Bufton (Brett), Roscoe F. Willis III (Benny), Allyson Stout, (Greg), and Tyler Willis, and her great grandchildren, Jay, Kyle and Reed Melson, Finley, Avery and Miller Bufton, Gwyneth, Caroline, Flynn and Vera Willis, Samantha Richardson, Isabella Stout, Kaylen Neil (Matthew) and Ensign Christian Reed, her niece Carrie Hare (Richie), and their sons, Tripp and Colt Hare.

Marilyn’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, February 2, 2019, with visitation at 11:00 and service at 12:00 Noon at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225

The family suggests that remembrances be made in Marilyn’s honor to the First Protestant Church of New Braunfels, Texas or The Heritage Society of New Braunfels, 1370 Churchill Dr., New Braunfels, TX