Garrah Lea Thornbrugh

Garrah Lea Thornbrugh

Garrah L. Thornbrugh, 84 of Kansas City, Missouri, formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away March 3, 2026. Garrah L. (Smith) Thornbrugh was born October 18, 1941, in Norton, Kansas to Rhomine E. Smith and Ila C. (Foley) Smith. She grew up on a small farm just outside of Oberlin, Kansas. Her family raised wheat, other crops, cattle and sheep. Garrah was active in 4H throughout grade school and high school. She graduated from Oberlin High School in 1959. Following high school Garrah completed a cosmetology program in McCook, Nebraska, passed the state board examinations to become a licensed cosmetologist. On September 9, 1962, she was united in marriage to Vernon J. Thornbrugh. Following their marriage Garrah spent a year in Germany with him, where Vernon was stationed in the Army. They moved to Denver after leaving the Army. Her husband was a USDA Meat Inspector, and his job took them to many parts of the country including Colorado, Wisconsin, and Oregon before settling in Crete, Nebraska in 1979. Garrah continued to practice cosmetology. Along the way Garrah also took time off from work, to raise her family and was a proud mother of three children. Late in life she continued to work as a beautician, she also completed a degree in tour and travel, where she worked in the travel industry for a few years. She then completed a degree in floral design, where she worked in the floral business for over 20 years with part of the time owning and running her own small floral business Community Flowers & Gifts in Lincoln, NE.

Garrah is survived by her three children: Shanna (husband Phillip) Pogue of Omaha, NE; Patrick (wife April) Thornbrugh of Smithville, MO; Darren (wife Juliana) Thornbrugh of Holland, MI; six grandchildren: Jared Thornbrugh, Tara Thornbrugh, Christian Pogue, Brooklyn Pogue, Reed Thornbrugh, and Lily Thornbrugh; brother Eldon (wife Shelley) Smith of Phillipsburg, KS.

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Vernon Thornbrugh.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of life for Garrah and Vernon Thornbrugh will be held March 9th at 1 pm at Butherus-Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St., Lincoln, NE 68510.

The service will be live streamed, visit www.bmlfh.com for the link.

Flowers may be sent in Garrah's name to St Mark's United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneer Blvd, Lincoln, NE.