Frank Thurman Obituary

Frank Thurman, 94, of Scottsdale, passed away May 20, 2006. He was born on Minnow Branch in Giles County, Tennessee on September 23, 1911 to Lemuel Marvin and Viola Thurman. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary, his parents, and sisters Effie Bishop, Bessie Duncan, Ann Burt, and Edith Gosnell. He is survived by his wife Lillian, daughters Barbara (Seth) Franzman of Phoenix, Betty Ann (Arlie) Ramsey of Scottsdale, grandchildren David Ramsey of Scottsdale and Christy (Gary) Sharn of Sterling, Virginia, great granddaughter Sophia, and many nieces and nephews. Frank was a member of Camelback Church of Christ. In 1930, Frank started working for the Milky Way Farm near Pulaski, Tennessee. Eventually, he became the herdsman in charge of the breeding herd of the purebred prize-winning Herefords of the Milky Way Farm. In 1945 Frank, with his wife Mary and daughter Barbara, moved to Phoenix when the Milky Way Hereford Ranch was relocated to what is now the site of the Town and Country Shopping Center on east Camelback Road. He knew each animal by its own name or registration number. After the ranching operation was dissolved and the shopping center was constructed on the ranch site, he worked as maintenance manager for Town & Country Shopping Center, Los Arcos, and other Valley shopping centers until his retirement in the 1980's. Frank grew beautiful roses and shared them freely with others. He picked and packed the citrus from his yard and gave it to friends and relatives all over the U.S. If Frank had a hobby, it was doing things for other people. For the past two years he was a resident at Scottsdale Village Square where he was recognized by the other residents and staff as a true gentle man whose demands were few and whose desire to assist his fellow residents continued. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 16, at 2 p.m. at Green Acres Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale, with visitation one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Copper Basin Bible Camp or the American Heart Association.

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Published by The Arizona Republic from Jun. 14 to Jun. 15, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Frank Thurman

5 Entries

Barbara (McGinnis) Froelich

July 1, 2006

Barbara

I remember your dad when we were kids at the 12th street and Indianola congregation. We visited your home several times and enjoyed your parents hospitality. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Bill, Gail and Kerry Knorr

June 17, 2006

We remember Frank Thurman as a gracious host, sharing holidays and his backyard citrus so generously, always a delightful Southern gentleman.

Barry Gosnell

June 15, 2006

June 15, 2006

Uncle Frank was a figure larger than life for me. As a young boy I eagerly looked forward to his visits back to Tennessee to see his family. I was always intrigued with him because he lived “Out West” when during the 1950’s all young boys my age were captivated by Roy Rogers/Hopalong Cassidy/Gene Autry. For me he was part of that with the pictures he often forwarded to his family in Tennessee tending to the Milky Way cattle on his horse with the western backdrops in the pictures.

When he visited Tennessee I would make trips with my Aunt to meet him at the Nashville Airport (usually at the American Airlines gate) and he would always be dressed with his large hat and tasteful western attire. He always had time to spend with me.

I witnessed the love between him and his father as his visits became more frequent in the late 50’s when his father was dying of cancer.

I enjoyed his company and appreciated him even more when I became older and had the opportunity to visit with him several times in Arizona. He shared his life with me on visits to locations of the ranches and the scenery of the area I had seen previously only in pictures.

As I reflect on his life perhaps his most impressive quality was his love for people. He was always was inquiring about his sisters, family and friends were doing in Tennessee. He spent several years ministering to an elderly neighbor that had no immediate family nearby to care for him.

On one of my trips to see him as I was departing Sky Harbor Airport, I received a page over the

loud speaker advising me to call the operator for a message. Of course I was quite startled and immediately made the call and it was Frank just making sure I was ok and made it to the correct gate for my departure! He was always concerned for the people around him.

A few years ago I met a young man visiting our church in Decatur Al and while discovering him and his wife were relocating from Scottsdale of course I asked the obvious question, do you know anyone from Scottsdale by the name of Frank Thurman? “Why of course I do” was his answer, I went to church with him and we talked almost every Sunday! Of course we both agreed what a small world we live in! He later related how he was encouraged by those many conversations and valued those times with him.

This is the measure of a life that will be remembered and revered by those that were fortunate enough to know and love him.

Barry Gosnell

Nephew

Decatur, Alabama