Mary Thurston

PULASKI, Ill. -- Mary Magdaline "Mag" Thurston, 89, of Pulaski died Monday, June 15, 2009, at Jonesboro Rehab and Health Care Center in Jonesboro, Ill.

She was born Jan. 25, 1920, in Elva, Ky., daughter of Bill and Ivy Stephens Barnes. She and W.H. "Bill" Thurston were married Nov. 10, 1943. He died April 30,1987.

Mrs. Thurston was a member of Pulaski Christian Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara (Terry) Gilliam of Paducah, Ky., Linda (Gary) Ward of Bolivar, Mo.; three sons, Jerry (Kathy) Thurston and Darrell (Linda) Thurston of Pulaski, Benny (Phyllis) Thurston of Sikeston, Mo.; two stepdaughters, Bonnie (Kenneth) Willis of Olive Branch, Ill., Betty (Heinz) Gee of Cottage Grove, Minn.; a sister, Mabel Kepner of Victorville, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a stepson, Clinton Thurston; a sister, Martha Ellis; two brothers, Paul and Billy Barnes; and a grandson, Ronnie Gee.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill., and from 10 a.m. to service time Wednesday at Pulaski Christian Church.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with Wiley Godfrey officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to Rose Hill Cemetery Association, c/o Agnes Thurston, P.O. Box 97, Pulaski, IL 62976, in memory of Mag Thurston.