Mary Lou Thurber

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mary Lou (Grasshopper) Thurber, 82, a lifelong resident of Hulbert, she earned her angels wings and completed her journey to heaven on Sunday, March 8, 2026. She was born in Tahlequah to the late Dick Grasshopper and Katie (Smith) Grasshopper.

Funeral Service will be 11 AM, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Hart Funeral Home Chapel, burial to follow at Towie Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 4 PM until 8 PM, at Hart Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary was a member of The Elder Care Cherokee Language Group, where she was fluent in Cherokee Language. Her hobbies included; sewing, crocheting, cooking but most of all, she loved being around her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, Leonard Thurber and Thomas Deerinwater, sisters, Dorothy Bark and Joann Jones, brothers, George Grasshopper, and Robert Whitner, daughter, Kathleen Vance and a grandson, Tommy Vance.

Survivors include her children, Teresa Sabage and husband Jim, Francine Deerinwater, Earl Deerinwater, and Kathleen "Usdi" Deerinwater, sisters, Mary Jane Washington, and Peggy Bluebird, brother, Tom Whitener, grandchildren, Staci Philpott, B.J. Holcomb, Tiffany Deerinwater, Joshua Holcomb, Misty Deerinwater, and Cody Vance, along with several nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren other relatives and friends.