Mary Ann Thurston

Mary Ann Thurston, age 77, went to be with her Lord, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Mercy Health Center, joining her beloved husband and baby boy Johnnie. She was born Jan. 15, 1932, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Lee Roy Monroe and Rena Jewell Morrow Monroe. She married Richard Wesley Thurston on Dec. 24, 1946, at Girard, Kan. He preceded her in death on Dec. 17, 1987. Mary Ann worked as a nurse aide at Mercy Hospital from 1976 retiring in 1996. She was a member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle. Mary Ann was known as an excellent cook. She loved spending time with grandchildren.

Survivors include one son, Michael Thurston and wife Janise, Benton, Kan.; two daughters, Cindy Thurston Page and husband Dan, and Marsha Ann Koppa and husband George, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving is a brother, Merle Monroe, Fort Scott, sister, Betty Jean Carson and husband John, Fort Scott; eight grandchildren, Rick Koppa and wife Bobbie Jo, Scott Koppa and wife Joy, Paul Smith and wife Tena, Becky Jewett and companion Ron Miller, Sarah Thurston, Adam Thurston, Debra Schlender and Leigh Schlender; and 13 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, a son Johnnie Lee Thurston; two brothers, Edward Monroe and Bill Monroe; and one sister, Delores Ballou.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Monday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Fort Scott Fire Department and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS, 66701.