William Michael Thurber, Sr.

William Michael Thurber, Sr., 72, of Seekonk, died on Monday, June 4, 2012 following a brief illness. He was the husband of Claire D. (Sweet) Cole Thurber to whom he was married on January 15, 2012. Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island on May 23, 1940, he was a son of the late Alonzo F. Thurber II and the late Dorothy C. (Kellogg) Thurber. A resident of Seekonk for the past 15 years, he formerly resided in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Mr. Thurber began his employment at The Cavanagh Company in the Greenville section of Smithfield, Rhode Island at the age of 16 and remained a dedicated, loyal employee as the Head of Shipping and Receiving for the past 56 years until his recent illness. He enjoyed cars and motorcycles. Mr. Thurber was an avid water-skier having once skied barefoot for four miles. He treasured the times spent dancing each week with his wife. A former member of the Smithfield B.P.O. of Elks, Mr. Thurber later was a member of the Bristol B.P.O. of Elks. In earlier years he enjoyed being active in his children's activities and promoting musicians in Tennessee. He was very proud of his paternal grandfather and father's commitment to the Town of Smithfield and their accomplishments as both served for a total of almost fifty years as the Highway Commissioners for the Town of Smithfield. In addition to his wife, he leaves his children: William M. Thurber, Jr. of Smithfield, Rhode Island; Wayne P. Thurber of Glocester, Rhode Island; Denise M. Cabral of Smithfield, Rhode Island and Amy Gill-Harvey of Cumberland, Rhode Island; Coleen M. Childs of Rehoboth; Lisa C. Garrahan of Fryeburg, Maine; Corey J. Cole of Plymouth and Randy I. Tammany of North Attleboro; a brother: Alonzo F. Thurber III and his wife, Carol, of Smithfield, Rhode Island; Judith A. Boucher and her husband, Raymond, of Harrisville, Rhode Island; Joyce A. Gallagher and her husband, Jack, of Pascoag, Rhode Island and Jean A. Merrill of Smithfield, Rhode Island; 25 grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation on Thursday from 4:00 - 8:00 PM in the "Memorial Chapel" of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home - the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, mile on left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro with a funeral service commencing during visitation at 5:30 PM in the "Memorial Chapel" of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard C. Roy, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Attleboro, officiating. Visitation will continue following the funeral service until 8:00 PM. Burial will be private. Children's room available during visitation and the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dyer-Lake Charitable Foundation, Inc., a registered 501 (c) 3 organization, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, North Attleboro, MA 02760 to benefit Pancreatic Cancer research and development. To send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.