LEOTI — Frances Marie Thurston, 98, passed away on Feb. 21, at Wichita County Health Center LTCU in Leoti. Born Jan. 7, 1917, in Tribune, she was the daughter of Harold and Marjorie Hoopes Smith. On Jan. 4, 1940, she married Harry Thurston in Tribune. He passed away on Oct. 1, 1989, in Tribune, Kansas. A lifetime resident of Western Kansas, she was a homemaker and a retired Avon representative for over 32 years.
Mrs. Thurston was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the VFW Auxiliary, all of Leoti.
Survivors include two sons, Jim and Jolene Thurston of Great Bend, and Harold Thurston and Tami Cathcart, of Holly, Colo.; five grandchildren, Jason and Shari Thurston, of Overland Park, Jarrod Thurston of Kansas City, Janee’ and Jesse Bernal, of Garden City, Ashley Nolan and Derek Bownes, of Holcomb, and Aubree and Alex Budd, of Scott City; and seven great-grandchildren, Jacey Thurston, Braydon Thurston, JohnPaul Bernal, Gabriella Bernal, Emri Bownes, Bentley Thurston, and Jax Budd. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Leo Smith and Levert Smith; and one sister, Dorothy Butler.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 24, at the United Methodist Church in Leoti, with the Reverend Brad Kirk officiating. Burial was at the Leoti Cemetery in Leoti. Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church, Leoti E.M.T.’s or Wichita County Health Center LTCU in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to priceandsons.com.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 4, 2015*