THURBER, Bobbie June

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 04/20/2012 Longtime resident of Eagar, Bobbie June (Ball) Thurber died Monday, April 16, 2012, in Orem, Utah. She was born June 1,1929, in Kokomo (now Darbun), Miss. to Rufus Moses and Melvina (Cochran) Ball. She graduated in 1947 from Alma School in Mesa, worked as a legal secretary, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Atlantic States Mission and began her college education. She married Stanley Roy Thurber Feb. 22, 1954. She gave birth to 11 children and spent a great number of years caring for them in uncountable and loving ways. One child died as an infant, and talk of David Thurber always brought a tender tear. She is remembered for singing and reading to her children, and for the immense amount of responsibility she maintained for their upbringing and welfare. Her love and aid to her husband and children is irreplaceable, and this extended to her friends and neighbors wherever she went. Hobbies included gardening, sewing, quilting and music. She was an avid runner and enjoyed daily crossword puzzles as well as an occasional game of chess with her husband. After the children were grown, she accompanied her husband on three additional missions, including France, Switzerland, Newfoundland and Arizona. Bobbie June is survived by her husband, Dr. Stanley Roy Thurber; youngest sister Naomi (Ball) Carson; 10 children, 44 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; children: Mark Thurber, Karen Whiting, Stephen Thurber, Michael Thurber, Elaine Dunn, Daryl Thurber, Kerry Thurber, Samuel Thurber, Cheryl Van De Graaff, and Nathan Thurber. She is fondly remembered by many. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Amity building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eagar. Send an online condolence to her family at website www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements.