Myrtle Lee Thurmond Parish, 101, of Smithville passed away Thursday, April 7, 2010. She was born February 28, 1909 in East Bernard, TX to the late Annie Louise Rieger Malone and Marion Matthew Malone. Myrtle had been a resident of the Towers Nursing Home in Smithville for the past 8 years. She was a 60 year resident of the Pledger Community, and a member of the Abell St. Church of Christ in Wharton.
She was well-known and very active in the Pledger, Texas, community and wore many hats. She served as Pledger Postmaster for 35 years, a leader in EAC, cattle rancher, seamstress, activities for the elderly, and very active in politics. She was instrumental in the building of the Pledger Community Center and obtaining the playground equipment. She will be remembered and missed by family and friends.

She is survived by daughter-in-law, Minnie Thurmond; two granddaughters (Sheri Doguet and husband, David, Vicki Ray Wiggins and husband, Steve); one grandson, Marion T. (Tommy) Thurmond; eight great-grandchildren (David Doguet, Jr., Daric Doguet (Erin), Darin Doguet (Katy), Ashley Doguet, Kristyn Ray Shahan (Michael), Kole Ray, Ty Thurmond (Karen), Whitney Thurmond; five great-great-grandchildren (Elena Doguet, Atticus Wootton, Sonny Shahan, Paisley Doguet, Ethan Vrana).

She was preceded in death by parents, Annie Louise Rieger Malone and Marion Matthew Malone; sisters (Rescia Malone Burridge, Willie Malone Horvath, Alta Malone Thompson, Pearl Malone Reed); brothers (Horace Malone and Mack Malone); husband (Floyd Parish); and her only child, a son, Marion T. (Sonny) Thurmond.

A graveside service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park in Van Vleck, TX, on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.