Carl Hylton Thurman

He had a date!

Carl Hylton Thurman, 91, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at Hillside Health Care in the loving care of Hospice of Missoula and his family.

Carl was born Dec. 16, 1922, in Sonora, Texas, to Maud and James Thurman and was raised in Ozona, Texas. He worked on large ranches as a teen, drove truck, worked in the oil fields and as an oiler in a paper mill for many years. He met and married the love of his life, Marlys Tallman, in Phoenix, where they were married Nov. 2, 1962. They were married for 32 years before her death in 1994.

Carl is survived by two daughters, Kirstie Harnist (Chuck) and Dona Cahala (Ernie); 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, son, two sisters, a brother and a grandson.

Carl served in the U.S. Army as an airplane mechanic and maintenance during World War II. He enlisted Nov. 7, 1942, and was given an honorable discharge Feb. 13, 1946.

Carl was a devout Southern Baptist, loved his church and church family. He taught Sunday school for many years. He was a giving man, would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. He was also a very stubborn man. In fact, his grandson Jeremy said, "God's gonna have a hard time with grandpa!"

Carl was always in good humor and ready to tell old ranch stories when given the chance. He married into a very musical family, but couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. As a matter of fact, his high school music teacher told him that if he "would keep his mouth shut she would give him a passing grade."

Carl didn't have many hobbies other than his family, but did like woodworking, macrame and reading westerns by Louis L'Amour and Elmer Kelton, as well as his Bible.

Graveside services will be held in Ozona in May
Read Carl Thurman's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.