Alean Thurston

Alean Thurston, 76, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Franciscan St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born May 6, 1939, in Marion County, Kentucky, the daughter of Oscar and Hattie (Spurling) Bright. On August 20, 1955, she married her husband of 60 years, Wesley Thurston, and he survives. Alean is also survived by her daughters, Diana Shook and husband, Greg, of Lowell, Barbara Smith and husband, Todd, and Kimberly Thurston and husband, Matt Tracey, both of Shelbyville; Oscar Vincent “Wink” Bright of Shelbyville; sisters, Madeline Warfield, Edith Gehring, Polly Ann Bright and Sandra Coffey, all of Shelbyville, and Jeanette Hopkinson of Yakima, Washington; grandchildren, Todd Smith and Jennifer Mahan and husband, Todd; great-grandchildren, Abby and Annie; sister-in-law, Connie Bright; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, twin, Arlene S. Edmonds and Jewell T. Clements; brothers, J. T. Spurling, Oscar “Henry” Bright Jr., Raymond Bright and Donald Bright; brothers-in-law, George Gehring, Frank Coffey, Ed Clements and Marvin Warfield. Alean graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1957. She was a member of Mt. Gilead Church, St. Joseph Social Club and Shelby Senior Services. Alean retired from Coulston Elementary, as the cafeteria manager in 1992, with 25 years of service. She loved to play euchre. Alean enjoyed traveling and visited many places including Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and Mexico. Alean loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2016 at the funeral home, with Rev. Bryan Trotter officiating. Interment will be at Blue Ridge Cemetery in Shelby County. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 E 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201.