Hurtle Green Thurmon of South Bluff Road in Obion County, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2011 at his home. Born September 21, 1923, he was 87.

He was born in rural Obion County, the eighth of twelve children belonging to James Eugene and Ira Wilson Thurmon. Remaining siblings are Roy B. Thurmon, Parks Thurmon and Mary Ruth Hailey, all of Dyersburg and Karen Ziegler of Wichita, KS. His wife of 66 years, Beatrice Ligon Thurmon, preceded him in death in 2009.

Mr. Thurmon was a retired land owner and farmer and served as Chief of Police in Ridgely for 20 years between 1952 and 1972. He was widely known and respected for his work with "Hitler", one of the first K-9 police dogs in Tennessee. Mr. Thurmon was a member of the Ridgely Church of Christ, the Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police and The Woodmen of the World.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Ridgely Chapel of Dyersburg Funeral Home with Bro. Parks Thurmon officiating. Burial will be in New Haven Cemetery.

The family will receive visitors from 5:30-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Lynn Thurmon of Obion, June Catherine Gaulding (Nolan) of Atoka and Martha Helton (Paul) of Hazleton, PA.; grandchildren are, Rob DeMotsis (Mimi) of Memphis, Russ DeMotsis of Atoka, Troilyn Williams of Orlando, FL., Will Helton (Bernadette) and Michael Helton (Sarah), all of Frisco, TX. Great-grandchildren are Mallory Carmichael (Justin) of Ft. Worth, TX, Michael Moss of Olive Branch, MS., Mariana Blair and Shea Crossman (Samantha), all of Orlando, FL. and Jaxon and Jimmy Helton of Frisco, TX. Great-great-grandchildren are James and Logan Carmichael, both of Ft. Worth, TX., Emma and Shea Jr. Crossman and Mekhi Blair, all of Orlando, FL.

Pallbearers will be Paul Helton, Nolan Gaulding, Rob DeMotsis, Russ DeMotsis, Will Helton and Michael Helton. Honorary pallbearers will be Alan Shirley, Buford Hopper, Woody Herr, Johnny Inlow and Lee Fry.

The family prefers that any memorials be sent to: Love Worth Finding Ministries, P.O. Box 38300, Memphis, TN 38183-0300 or to the organized charity of your choice.