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Thelma Loughley

EAST LIVERPOOL – Thelma L. Loughley passed away at the age of 77 on Sunday evening, December 8, 2013 at East Liverpool City Hospital. Thelma, of State Route 45 in Wellsville, had been ill for quite some time.

One of ten children born at home to the late Enlo V. and Lula Heddleston Gatrell, she was born on October 24, 1936 in LaCroft. She attended East Liverpool City Schools before beginning work as a young girl at the former Olympic Confectionery in downtown East Liverpool, and had also been employed at the Traveler’s Hotel, where her love of cooking began. A licensed beautician, Thelma had also been associated with various local hair salons through the years.

A devoted homemaker, Thelma loved sewing, crocheting and cooking for her family, and enjoying experimenting with various recipes she learned about either on cooking shows or on her computer. Even during times when she didn’t feel well, she found comfort in interests such as sketching and re-upholstering furniture, and of course, spending time with her family.

Her husband, Robert “Bob” Loughley, survives at home. The couple just celebrated 60 years of marriage on November 29 of this year.

Thelma also leaves behind a daughter, Diana L. Burns and her husband, Charles, of Wellsville, and two sons, Robert W. “Bob” Loughley and his wife, Jennifer, of Dothan, AL, and James L. Loughley of Wellsville. There are six grandchildren: Robert, Jenna, Matt, James, Amy, and Amber Hunt and her husband, Jordan. There are two great-grandchildren, Maddox and Andrew, and one to be expected in April, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Two sisters and a brother survive as well: Helen Sanford of Vero Beach, FL, Gloria Massey of St. George, UT, and Chuck Gatrell of East Liverpool. Preceding Thelma in death were three sisters, Dorothy Green, Violet Travis and Evelyn Neilson, as well as three brothers, Harold Gatrell, Dale Gatrell and Carl Gatrell.

Rev. Delmar Logston, family friend and retired pastor of Campground Community Church, will officiate at a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at the Dawson Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Spring Grove Cemetery, followed by a time of continued fellowship at the Dawson Family Center.

Friends may visit the family at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

View Thelma’s memorial webpage and send condolences to the family online at www.dawsonfuneralhome.com

12/10/13