[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Rex LaVerne Thralls
Apr 20, 1929 - Sep 22, 2015
©
Enid News and Eagle
09-24-2015
Submitted by: Glenn
Rex LaVerne Thralls, 86, of Billings, Oklahoma was born to Kenneth
Orlando Thralls and Grace Viola (Hawkins) Thralls on April 20, 1929 in
Seattle, Wash.. He went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday,
September 22, 2015 at St. Mary's Hospital in Enid, Okla.
When Rex was a toddler his parents moved to Helena, Okla., to farm.
There he began his farming as an 8-year-old boy by doing various chores
and driving the tractor.
Then in 1943, the family moved to the Antelope Valley Community, where
his dad was a preacher-farmer and Rex continued his interest in farming
through livestock projects and showing steers in FFA at Garber High
School where he graduated in 1947.
He received the FFA State Farmer Award as a senior. Also that year he
took a two month voyage to Ethiopia to deliver livestock for the "Heifer
Project" (this is an ongoing worldwide project - now known as Heifer
International-giving livestock and teaching skills to people in
developing countries).
After one year at McPherson College, McPherson, Kan., he came back home
to Billings, Okla., to farm with his dad and to marry his high school
sweetheart, Dona Rae Pfrimmer, on October 16, 1949 at Antelope Valley
Church of the Brethren, Billings. They had two children: Mike and Debby.
Rex and Dona leave behind a great legacy of a love for their family and
for farming. They had a lifelong career in agriculture; while raising a
family they farmed, ran a dairy, and raised cattle.
They received the State Farm Bureau "Farm Family of the Year" in 1977.
Rex was presented the Honorary FFA Chapter Farmer Award from the
Billings FFA.
He farmed for over seventy-five years, until his death, always with
faith in God and always in partnership: first with his dad, then with
his son, currently with his grandsons and great-grandsons, (and with
Blu, his canine companion) and always with his wife until her death in
2010.
Besides a passion for farming and family, Rex had a passion for his
church � Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren. He served as a deacon
and Sunday school teacher and many other offices.
He also cared deeply about Camp Spring Lake church camp in Cordell,
Okla., where he camped as a child and then continued to support the camp
throughout his life�serving on the board, actively participating in camp
work days, and buying food and supplies for the camp. Rex also served on
several boards in the community including Billings School Board for
twelve years and the Hunter Rural Water Association Board where he was
instrumental in bringing rural water to the Antelope Valley Community.
Beyond the official roles, Rex was a wonderful neighbor always lending a
helping hand, a cheerful word and a joyful laugh to friend and stranger
alike.
Rex will lie in state at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren from 8
a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 and the family will receive
friends from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Saturday,
September 26, 2015, at Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren, with
Pastor Kelly Cronkhite officiating.
Interment will follow at Polo Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to
the care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, Elk City, Okla.
Rex is survived by his daughter, eight grandchildren, and 11
great-grandchildren: daughter, Debby (Thralls) Holloway and husband,
Bill of Uvalde, Texas; their three daughters, Amber Younts and husband,
Danny of Odessa, Texas; Brooke Holloway of Arlington, Va.; and Crystal
Rieff and husband, Joshua and son, Shepherd of Waco, Texas;
daughter-in-law Donna Sue Thralls of Billings, Okla.; her five children,
Ray Thralls and wife, Abby and daughters, Katy and Ellie of Broken
Arrow, Okla.; Greg Thralls and wife, Sunny and children, Bryce, Kristian
and Kaysun of Calera, Okla.; Michele Stowers and husband, Alan and sons,
John and Jalan of Quantico, Va.; Angie Reinschmiedt and husband, Ben and
daughters Addison, Ainslie and Braelyn of Garber, Okla.; and Derek
Thralls and wife, Crystal of Guthrie, Okla.; two sisters, Vernona Stork
and husband, Jack of Bella Vista, Ark.; LaVona Schnaithman of Enid,
Okla.; sister-in-law Cindy Yost of Billings, Okla.; brother-in-law Bill
Majors and wife, Rosalie of Ponca City, Okla.; sister-in-law Shirley
Thralls of Oceanside, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews; and his large
church and community family. He loved all.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Dona Rae
Thralls, his son, Mike Thralls, two brothers, Don Thralls and Roy
Thralls (who died in infancy), and two brothers-in-law Sidney Yost and
Paul Schnaithman.
Memorials can be made to Antelope Valley Church of the Brethren or
Heifer International (www.heifer.org)
in care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, 600 West Country Club Blvd., Elk
City, OK 73644.
Condolences may be sent to the family using the online guestbook at
www.martin-duggerfuneralhome.com.
(Submitted by family)
|Polo Cemetery| |Noble
County Cemeteries| |Home|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
