Esther Gene Justen

Born on September 30, 1925 in Summerfield, Louisiana, she was the first child of S.E. Thurmon and Mary Lou Tanner Thurmon. Known as Gene to family and friends, she attended Louisiana Tech where she met her husband, John, whom she married on December 28, 1945. For the following 57 years, they traveled throughout the United States and Canada with his work in the aviation and oil industries, eventually settling in Houston, Texas. Gene has lived in El Dorado for the past 12 years following John’s death.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Jack Thurmon and Joe Thurmon, her son Charles David Justen, her husband John Joseph Justen, and her son (in-law) Foster Ellis Kirby.

Survivors are her daughters Anne of Bow Mar, Colorado and Elizabeth of Hollywood, Florida; her sons and their wives: John and Janice of Flower Mound, Texas; Michael and Patti of Largo, Florida; and Paul and Sharon of Spring Branch, Texas; brothers and sisters (in-law): Mack and Mary Jo Thurmon of Lillie, Louisiana and Donald and Louise Thurmon of Monroe, Louisiana; her sisters Alice Owen of El Dorado and Frances Green of Emerson; her sister (in-law) Bettye Raley of El Dorado; along with grandchildren Alexandra Kirby, Savannah Kirby, J.C. and Heather Justen, Melissa and Chris Carpenter, Kristi Justen, Patrick Justen, and Edward Justen; a great grandchild, Anthony; and numerous nephews and nieces and their families.