Shirley Ann Thurston

Shirley Ann Thurston, 76, of Marengo OH, passed away Thursday January 5^th, 2023, at Mount Carmel St Anns, in Columbus OH.

Shirley was born June 4^th, 1946, in Mount Vernon OH to John William and Golda Mae {Phelps} Stiffler.

She graduated from Highland High School.

She married James Thurston on 8/5/1967. 

When James fell ill and had to take temporary disability, Shirley secured a position as a newspaper carrier for the Mt. Vernon News to help make ends meet. She continued to deliver the newspaper for 35 years forging lifelong connections with members of the Fairview neighborhood until she retired in 2014.  She was a member of the Green Valley Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, supervised the nursery, and volunteered with Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed gardening, canning, sewing, and crocheting. At home in the kitchen, she loved getting ready for the holidays making pies from scratch, cooking the holiday turkey or ham, and making all manner of cookies and candies. She rarely met a dog she didn’t like, and the bigger the dog, the more she appreciated it.

A dedicated homemaker, Shirley will be deeply missed by her children James M (Karla) Thurston (Cameron, NC) John C. (Guy) Thurston (Topsham ME), and one grandson. She took special joy in the connections she had with her extended family, doting on her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and her great-great nephews. Quick to laugh, she loved a good Nerf battle or marshmallow eating contest.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, a brother and sister.

Burial will follow at a later date.  Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com.   Memorial contributions may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  stjude.org