Melba Thurston

Melba Thurston, 85, of Jackson died Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 20, 1918, in Bernie, Mo., daughter of Richard and Effie Adeline Jeris McCamish. She and H.A. Walker were married in 1933. She later married C.E. "Red" Thurston July 12, 1964, at Bernie. He died March 6, 1981.

Thurston moved to Jackson eight years ago from Bernie. She was a cosmetologist and owned and operated a beauty shop in Dexter, Mo. She and her husband owned and operated the Farmers Insurance Group office in Bernie many years. She attended Bernie Methodist Church prior to moving to Jackson.

Survivors include a daughter, Fleta Edmonds of St. Louis; a stepson, Kenneth Thurston of Bernie; four sisters, Velva Robisky of Dallas, Texas, Evelyn Robinson of Jackson, Mayola Gibson of Desoto, Texas, Martha Duffie-Reynolds of Bernie; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two grandchildren.

Friends may call after 11 a.m. Sunday at Watkins and Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mack Williams officiating. Burial will be in Bernie Cemetery.