Ronald Dean "Ron" Thurman

Memorial services for Ronald Dean Thurman, 79, of Sand Springs, OK, were held Friday, April 16, 2021 at Johnson Funeral Chapel in Sperry, OK, and burial was in Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry, OK. Phillip Johnson officiated. Honorary Casket bearers were Tracy Thurman, Rod Simmons, Tim Simmons, Cary Simmons, and Bryan Thurman.

Ronald was born May 31, 1941 in Colcord, OK, to David Edward Andrew and Viola Fern (Campbell) Thurman. He passed away April 6, 2021 in Tulsa, OK.

A Christian man with a great love for the Lord, Ron walked his earthly path with a shoulder to the wind and an eye on the horizon. He was not often dealt a winning hand, but he played the cards he had straight, fair and to the best of his ability. Ron was born with a passion for the internal combustion engine. He was a gifted mechanic with an ear for piston timing and carburetor adjustments. He was a habitual tinkerer who enjoyed working with his hands. Ron could build just about anything with wood. As long as you did not mind sheetrock screws and maybe a little bit of wobble. Ron had a knack for re-using the odds and ends and cast-offs of other projects.

Coming from a large family, Ron learned early in life to get all there was out to get out of something, no matter what it was. When Ron’s mother wanted their roofing shingles to be a different color, Ron and his dad used the free bug sprayers given out by the hardware stores, filled them with thinned paint and went to work changing the roof color. (It ain’t stupid if it works.) Ron was not what you would call a musician, but he was gifted with an amazing ability in music. He had a tremendous singing voice and loved all the old hymns. When it came to singing, Ron used to say “The Lord said to make a joyful noise. He didn’t say it had to be good.” Ron loved to sing, and he could croon anything Hank Williams or Johnny Cash ever did with as much passion as “Bringing in the Sheeves”.

He was a great storyteller with a broad imagination and a flair for turning a phrase. A voracious reader, there has not been a western story written that Ron has not read. Cowboys, cattle drives, and gunfights were always Ron’s favorites. His family is betting that John Wayne will be one of the first persons Ron will look for in Heaven. Ron had many occupations during his life. He pumped gas, changed oil, painted, dug, mowed, gathered, bought, and sold just about everything you would think of and maybe some you would not. His profession was as a salesman. He sold everything from sandwiches to refrigerators at one time or another. And he was good at it.

Ron was a man of great compassion and a capacity for love. He had a natural empathy for animals. Dogs, cows, cats, or birds, Ron loved them all and enjoyed spending time with them. He was a definitely dog’s best friend. You can bet no dog went hungry or without a kind hand around Ron Thurman. His family is sure that Heaven is full of wagging tails right now.

Bottom line, Ron lived the best life he knew how. He was a good man all the way through. He did a lot of good in this old world and never did any harm. And that is something that we hope we can all say by the time it is our turn to cross the river.

Rest easy Dad, we got it from here.

He is survived by his sons, Tracy Thurman Rod Simmons Tim Simmons; Cary Simmons Bryan Thurman; daughter, Kelly Kay (Thurman) Pruitt; numerous grandchildren; brothers, Loren Thurman, Doyle Thurman, Arnold Thurman, and Bennie Thurman; sisters, Phyllis Malin and Zelda (Thurman) Weathers; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, David Thurman; mother, Viola Thurman; brothers, Ollie Thurman, Edward Thurman, Carl Thurman; baby sister, Trilla Fern Thurman and sister, Twylah Laverne (Thurman) Dorman.

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Online condolences to the family can be made at johnsonsperry.com.