Willie Edward Thomure Jr.

Willie was born in the same house as his father on the twenty-first birthday of his mother, Virginia. A daughter and two more sons rounded out the family. At his father’s knee, he learned the value and rewards of hard work that followed him all his life. The family attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church not far from their farm. It was there that Willie and his sister, Wanda, gave their lives to Jesus Christ there. This formed his life through years of good times and bad, always depending on God to provide. He was never disappointed in that decision. He attended a one room schoolhouse until advancing to high school in Farmington, MO, where he graduated in 1958. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. During and after school he worked various jobs in and around Farmington and Ste. Genevieve County in MO. Before he moved to St. Louis County to work in construction, he took flying lessons which he enjoyed greatly. While living with his sister, Wanda, he was encouraged to go on a blind date with a girl who lived in South St. Louis. That would be the end of his bachelorhood. In 1961 he married Jean Carney. They had three sons before moving to Rossville GA in 1969. In whatever occupation he was in, he was a loyal, dependable and knowledgeable employee. He worked in the Hutcheson Hospital’s nursing home where he formed close relationships with the elderly men he tended. He moved from the nursing home to the hospital working in surgery as an anesthesia technician. A yearning for farm life took his little family to AL. It was during this time that he was able to become a semi-truck driver for Colonial Bakery in Chattanooga TN, something he had always wanted to do. He retired from there after twenty-five years. In retirement he learned cabinet making from a friend whose shop was in Trenton on the road he and his wife had moved to in 1984. He always enjoyed working with his hands and was able to build cabinets for his home and his son’s home as well. He also loved horses. After acquiring a few, he learned how to shoe them. Besides horses, he raised goats, pigs, and a few milk cows. He became the go-to man for his friends who needed help with their goats. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do if he set him mind to it. Survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Jean Carney Thomure, sons, Nick (Karen) Thomure, Trenton GA; Jesse Thomure, Johnson City TN. Grandchildren, Jon and Paul Thomure, Trenton GA; TJ (Lauren) Thomure, Salem AL; Ashley (Michael) Ginney, Box Springs GA; Elora (Kevin) Mowbray, Ellaville GA, and Elizabeth (Harley) Walker, Rossville GA. Great-grandchildren, Anthony “Bear” Faulkenbury, Seale GA; Robbie Thomure, Lydia and Trey Ginney, Box Springs GA, Brooklyn Chmielewsky and Carson Thomure, Salem AL; Luke, Britton, Gracelyn, and Cambry Mowbray, Ellaville GA. Sister, Wanda Brenneke of MO; Robert Thomure of Hopkinsville KY; many nephews, nieces and cousins in MO, friends in and around Dade County GA. Willie was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Thomure, Sr, Trenton GA; parents Willie and Virginia Thomure, Farmington MO; and brother Charles Thomure Farmington MO; In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Legion Post 106, Trenton GA for disabled veterans. Grateful appreciation goes to Ryan Funeral Home for their care of Willie, and to Pastor Chris Ware for his kindness and guidance. A memorial service will be held at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Trenton GA, at 4pm on Sunday December 28, 2025, with visitation from 2 to 4pm prior to the service.

Willie Edward Thomure Jr.

April 5, 1939 - December 20, 2025