Darrell Charles Thurman, 71, of Scio, Oregon passed away Wednesday, August 17. He was born March 11, 1945 in Springfield, Colorado, the son of Charles and Elmo “Peggy” (Pridemore) Thurman.

Darrel finished high school in Kingman, Arizona in 1963. After that, he entered the United States Navy and served on the destroyer tender USS Prairie AD5 in Vietnam until 1967.

Darrell lived in LA County for ten years while working for LA County Sheriff’s Office. He moved to Oregon in 1976, settling in Sweet Home in 1977. He worked for Linn County Sheriff’s Department until 1998. He and his wife moved to Scio in 1989.

Darrell and his wife shot in police competition handgun matches for many years. He was a strong supporter of the NRA and of the Second Amendment. He enjoyed woodworking and building cedar strip canoes and boats, as well as fishing. In recent years, he and his best friend, Don Thompson, were building and selling sheet metal campfire ovens for hikers and backpackers.

Darrell is survived by his wife of 38 years, Donna (Francis) Thurman; sons Curt Thurman and his wife, Jeanne, of Kingman, AZ and Larry Thompson of Sweet Home, OR; daughters Michelle and her husband, Kai Lamb, of Austin, TX and Terry Thompson of Sweet Home, OR; grandchildren Sandy Thompson, Tyler and Amanda Thurman, Jordan and Reagan Lamb, and Katie and Wyatt Ensley; great granddaughter and buddy, Kadence Thompson. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister, Linda Thurman Tennant.

A celebration of life will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 20, at Sweet Home Mennonite Church with a reception and open house following until 1:00 p.m.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.