MARY YVONNE (MATCHETT) THURSTON

February 23, 1925 ~ May 5, 2016

Yvonne Thurston, beloved wife of the late Clarence Thurston, passed away in Bow Island on Thursday, May 5, 2016, at the age of 91 years. Yvonne was born in Newcastle, NB. and took her schooling there through High School. During the war years, she met Clarence, a dashing airman from “out West”, they fell in love and were married in Newcastle on July 29, 1944. Soon after, they left the Maritimes for Bow Island where Yvonne lived the rest of her life on the farm and later in town. Yvonne is survived by seven children: Wayne Thurston (Jodi, Tammi and Jamie), Pat (Jim Tratch) Thurston (Chris and Kerry), Ruth Bruins (Erin and Lauren), Rick (Wendy) Thurston (Jill, Ryan and Marty), Kathy (Harv) Nixdorf (Cole, Brett, Cam, Craig and Cade), Margie (Rob) Rapson (Sarah, Diana, Samantha,Tessa and Philip) and Beth (Rob) Hopkins (Andrew, Jordan and Ethan). She is also survived by thirty-one great-grandchildren (and two soon-to-be) along with three sisters, Libby Bland, Ruth (Jim) Heath and Greta (Don) Curry, all in NB, and sisters-in-law, Margaret Belcher in Ontario, and Joyce Belcher in England. Yvonne had nieces and nephews from coast to coast and in England. Besides her loving husband, Clarence, Yvonne was predeceased by her parents, Willy and Maggie Matchett, one brother, Bill Matchett and three sisters, Helena Comfort, Wanda Dutcher and Dolly Seymour. Yvonne filled her life with caring for her family and the many friends she made in her community. She generously shared her husband with numerous community activities. She became involved in Women’s Institute (WI) as a young farm wife and worked and fellowshipped in this association for over fifty years, eventually serving as President. Yvonne was a writer of poems, a singer of lullabies and a baker of many treats. Her home was always open to all… family, friends, stray animals and people. She will be dearly missed. A memorial celebration of Yvonne’s life will be held at the Bow Island Evangelical Free Church, 214 – 4 Avenue West, Bow Island, AB. on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor John Paetkau officiating. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Flowers are gratefully declined. If friends so desire, donations in Yvonne’s memory may be made to the Bow Island and District Health Foundation, P.O. Box 3990, Bow Island, Alberta, T0K 0G0. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455