YAZOO CITY — Frank Thurman, 80, of Bentonia, died Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland surrounded by his family.

Visitation is Friday afternoon from 5 to 7 p.m., with the Order of Eastern Star Service beginning at 7 at Stricklin King Funeral Home, 718 Calhoun Avenue, Yazoo City.

A brief visitation preceding the service will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with the funeral beginning at 10 at Ogden Baptist Church, 6530 Highway 433 West, Bentonia.

He will be laid to rest at Ogden Baptist Cemetery with Masonic Rights conducted at graveside.

Frank was born on Nov. 11, 1934, in Huttig, Ark., to the late Henry Thurman and the late Florence Freeman Thurman.

A graduate of Strong High School, Frank served his country in the Army from 1953 until 1956.  In 1957, Frank began his career with International Paper, Natchez.  On Aug. 1, 1959, he married his first love, E. Janette Gullett Thurman. They enjoyed 39 years of marriage that included two devoted daughters.

In 1967, as International Paper Co. in Vicksburg was being built, he transferred his family first to Vicksburg and then to Yazoo County. His family grew with the additions of sons-in-law and grandsons.

After Janette’s death, Frank met “a beautiful red head” and fell in love again. He married Carmen Stevens Thurman on Aug. 10, 1999. Again, his family grew to include two sons in love, two daughters in love and more grandsons and granddaughters.

After 10 years of marriage, Carmen went home to her Heavenly reward. Twice widowed, Daddy Frank (as his grandchildren called him) has been a loving and giving father, grandfather, son and brother.

After 45 years, Frank retired from International Paper in 2004.  He continued to enjoy his hobbies of building homes and barns, documenting family gatherings and local events, hunting and fishing, as well as restoring his prized 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck.

He was a 50-year member of Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 2, Natchez; Worthy Patron of Yazoo Chapter No. 141 OES, Yazoo City; Sentinel of Canton Chapter No. 58 OES, Canton; former member of Mount Olivet Methodist Church, Bentonia; and current member of Ogden Baptist Church, Bentonia.

Survivors include his daughters, Stacy (Jeffrey) Potter of Danville, Ill., Melinda (Allen) Ryan of Bentonia; his sons in love, Mike (Jenni) Germain of Bentonia, and David (Dana) Germain of Pearl; his grandsons, Joseph (Lauren) Potter of Bolton, Tenn., Jonathan (Brittney) Potter of Memphis, Tenn., Dustin (April) Ryan of Brandon, Michael Germain and Kaylan Germain of Bentonia; his granddaughters, Danielle Germain and Lakyn Germain of Pearl; his brother, Earl “Buddy” Thurman of Louann, Ark.; his sisters, Grace Thurman Calhoun of Arkadelphia, Ark., Charlotte (Lee Roy) Pratt of Urbana, Ark., Joan Thurman Tauton of Warren, Ark., Paula (Lorin) McLoud of Warren, Ark., and Janis (Robert) Mollerberg, of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; his brothers-in-law, Donnie (Jonette) Gullett of Jennings, La., and Robert (Roslyn) Stevens, Jr. of Bentonia; his sisters-in-law: Betty (Paulette) Gullett of Jefferson, La., Mary Ellen Mobley Stevens of Bentonia, Beth Smathers Stevens of Raymond, Kanita Stevens Ashley of Bentonia and Rosella (“Mac”) McMurry of Bentonia; and nieces of nephews.