Barbara Ashcroft Thurston, a native of Hyde Park, passed away on April 29, 2005 in Ventura, California, of pulmonary fibrosis.

Barbara was born December 10, 1916, the daughter of Charles Leland and Sarah Wanda (Reese) Ashcroft. She was valedictorian of her graduating class at North Cache High School and went on to obtain a BS degree from Utah State Agricultural College in 1938.

Following her graduation, she taught school in Cache Valley for several years. In December 1940 she began dating her husband-to-be, Morris Alma Thurston, who was in his senior year as an engineering student at Utah State. Barbara and Morris were married just after his graduation, on July 8, 1941, in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Following the wedding, the young married couple moved to Watsonville, California, where Morris worked as a civil engineer for the Soil Conservation Service.

World War II intervened in their lives and in December 1942, Morris applied for a commission in the Navy. Barbara, who was pregnant with her first child, followed Morris when he was sent to Camp Peary, near Williamsburg, Virginia, for basic training.

In May 1943, Barbara returned to her home in Hyde Park to give birth to her son. She continued to live with her family in Hyde Park, while Morris served as a Navy Sea Bee in the Pacific. After the surrender of Japan and Morris’ return to the States, the young family settled in Corning, a small town in Northern California. In the eight years they lived there, Barbara gave birth to four daughters. In 1954 the family moved to Granada Hills, California, where a fifth daughter was born. Ten years later, the family moved a final time to Ventura.

Barbara was a life-long devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many capacities, including president of the Ventura Third Ward Relief Society, teacher of many different Church classes, and organist. In 1981-82 she and Morris served as missionaries for the Church in Arkansas. For the last 22 years they have been volunteer workers in the Los Angeles LDS Temple.

Barbara found the greatest satisfaction and joy in her role as mother and grandmother. She regularly traveled throughout the country to attend family activities – graduations, recitals, missionary farewells and family reunions. She stressed Church service, education and music. Her son and all of her sons-in-law served as missionaries for the Church, as have many of her grandchildren and their spouses. All of her children, their spouses and most of her grandchildren graduated from college and many have obtained advanced degrees. Most of her children and grandchildren play musical instruments or sing.

Barbara was also a devoted genealogist and family historian. She appreciated her pioneer heritage and always felt drawn to Cache Valley.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 63 years, Morris Alma Thurston of Ventura, her brother, Vern L. Ashcroft of North Logan, her six children, Morris Ashcroft Thurston of Villa Park, CA, Mary Kaye Gardner of Tempe, AZ, Bonnie Holm of Chandler, AZ, Carolyn Selden of Woodbury MN, Wanda Ostler of Fremont, CA and Cheryl Reeder of Westminster, CO. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Harry Ashcroft, as well as three other siblings and two grandchildren who died as babies.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2005, in Ventura. A memorial service will also be held on Saturday, May 7, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., at the Allen-Cranney Mortuary, 420 East 1800 North, Logan. Barbara will be buried in the Hyde Park Cemetery, where her parents and many of her relatives from the Ashcroft, Reese, Rees, Woolf, Hurren and Molen families are also buried.