She later married the late Henry Peter Thurston and had three more children. She retired from Northrop Grumman Co."/>
She later married the late Henry Peter Thurston and had three more children. She retired from Northrop Grumman Co."/> Lillie Thurston | News, Sports, Jobs - Lehigh Acres Citizen
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Lillie Thurston

Mar 14, 2011

Lillie “May” (White, Draper) Thurston, 100, of Lehigh Acres, died on February 21, 2011 at Hope Hospice Home in Lehigh Acres after a short illness. She was born in Greenfield, N.H., on June 25, 1910, the daughter of the late William Livingstone and Cora Belle (Cram) White. She was married to the late Frederick Kenneth Draper, with whom she had three children.

She later married the late Henry Peter Thurston and had three more children. She retired from Northrop Grumman Co. where she was a machinist following a varied career as school cafeteria cook, nurse’s aide at a cancer hospital and a truck driver, all in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

She relocated to Florida in 1995 and lived independently at Presbyterian Homes (formerly Sunshine Villas) until a year ago when she entered the Lehigh Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center as a permanent resident. She was a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Massachusetts and Florida, where she held several offices; a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary where she served as president for four terms at the Walpole, Massachusetts post and as president and chaplain at the local post #4174.

She was a 60-year member of the Rebekah Lodge, serving as Noble Grand and chaplain; and a member of the Lehigh Christ United Methodist Church.

She is survived by five children: Frederick K. (Madeline) Draper Jr. of New Jersey, Ada M. (Douglas) Thompson (nee Draper, Young) of Lehigh Acres, Richard Barton (Yvonne) Draper of California, William Henry Thurston of Maine, Josephine Cora (Forrest) True (nee Thurston) of New Hampshire; 18 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Jack Lee Thurston.

There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2011 at the First Community Congregational Church, 200 Leeland Heights Blvd. in Lehigh.

Pastor Deborah Frysinger will officiate.

There will also be a committal service in Greenfield, N.H., in May. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name may be made to the First Community Congregational Church. Arrangements by Farley Funeral Home (239) 369-2181.