Val Jamison Thurber

Val Jamison Thurber passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in the Neuro Critical Care Unit of the University of Utah Hospital of complications from a brain abscess. Val had struggled with his health most all of his life.

Val was born October 7, 1958 in Salt Lake City to Glendon and Maurine Thurber. He married his best friend and great love, Karen McKay, February 19, 2005 in the Jordan River Temple.

Val never hid his light under a bushel; he was always busy doing something. He loved animals and children and donated to causes for both regularly. Because of his wonderful spirit, he was able to establish rapport with people quickly and easily. He was also a great and loyal friend.

Val loved to travel - his favorite place being Paris, France. He fell in love with the history, the architecture and most of all, Versailles.

Val was a quick learner and came to appreciate and love academics. He also acquired a very disciplined study ethic by working alongside his father. He loved to immerse himself in anything about the Civil War or history in general.

Val was a hard worker; both at work and at home. He excelled at all of his jobs and was always numbered among the finest employees wherever he worked. He loved working in the yard and spent time planting flowers of all types, especially petunias. People would often stop to talk to him and admire the yard.

Val had a great love and talent for tennis and spent countless hours on tennis courts. He used to sneak out of his bedroom at night just to meet a friend on a lighted tennis court. He had also purchased an acoustic guitar and had started taking lessons. The Moody Blues were among his favorite groups and his goal was to be able to play some of their songs.

Val served an honorable mission in the Chile, Osorno mission. He had a strong and unshakable testimony of the truth of the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved being with his family - especially during the holidays. Val's favorite holiday was Halloween and his favorite color was orange.

Val was a remarkable man; he lead a life full of incredible challenges and wondrous blessings. He was kind, gentle, caring and a loyal friend to everyone. He will be sorely missed.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Glenmoor 2nd Ward Chapel located at 9455 South 4800 West, South Jordan, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening, April 21, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and also Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral services at the same location. Interment will be at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, Utah.