KarLee Fern (Kennington) Thurman

KarLee Fern Kennington Thurman returned home to her Heavenly Father on July 4, 2020 at the age of 100, peacefully surrounded by family. KarLee was born on March 24,1920 in Fairview Wyoming to Alonzo Richard Kennington and Ida Susan Dixon Kennington. She was the 12th child of 14 children.

KarLee spent her childhood on the Kennington farm in Fairview Wyoming. She had a fun childhood surrounded by a large tight knit family. She often talked about the fun times they shared. KarLee attended grade school in Fairview at one point her older sister Maud Ranzenburg was her teacher. They had a one room school with all ages in the same class room. She told about riding to school in a covered wagon with benches along both sides and a pop bellied stove in the front to help keep them warm. We laughed when she told us about the day her mother sent a pan full of pudding with her to school for the group lunch. She was holding it on her lap when the wagon slid off the side of the road. The whole pan of pudding spilled on her dress. She told us she had 2 school dresses and seven aprons. She would wear one dress a week covered by a clean apron each day. Needless to say she wore both dresses that week. She often told us stories about the wonderful Christmas’s she had when she was a child. Each Christmas morning, she and her siblings would each get a stocking filled hardtack candy, a small toy often handmade, a pair of socks and the favorite thing a large orange.

She attended high school at Star Valley High school where she was very popular. While going to High School she met her future husband Ray McCombs Thurman they were later married in the Salt Lake City Temple. They made their home in Grover Wyoming. They went on a 2-year mission to The Great Lakes mission. During their mission they met and converted several people.When they returned home, they were blessed to be able to adopt three children. Karla Rae in 1954, Ronald Kenneth in 1961 and Susan Kay in 1963.  When her children went out, she would always tell us to be home before dark and remember who you are.

During her life, she was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. She was the favorite aunt to all of her brothers and sisters’ children from both the Kennington and Thurman families. Everyone always stopped at Aunt KarLee’s house where they were always greeted with homemade goodies and lots of love.

Her children and grandchildren loved visiting her because she always made the best food. Such as Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup with mashed potatoes, Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies, Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, White Sauce on Toast and her wonderful Homemade Bread and Rolls. Our favorite Sunday dinner was her fried chicken with chocolate cake for dessert. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always did fun things with them such as bonfires, picnics, hiking and long walks. She loved to read to them and feed them apples while she read. Our favorite book was called Caroline.  She would tell us bedtime stories mostly made up. Our favorite story she made up was about a badger. She would often fall asleep while she was telling it and say the funniest things. Her entire life was spent in service of others.

She is presided in death by her husband Ray, her son Ronald, her parents and her 13 siblings. She is survived by her daughters Karla Rae Clark and Susan Kay Potter, 14 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.

A public visitation will be held on Friday July 10,2020 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Schwab Mortuary in Afton Wyoming. A graveside service will be held on Saturday July 11,2020 at 11 AM at the Grover Ceremony. Please bring a lawn chair if you need to sit.