Mr. Thurman Gary Huffman's Obituary
Gary was born in Birmingham, AL on Nov. 9, 1945, to Thurman Doc Huffman and Verta Barran Huffman. When he was 9 years old the Family moved to Alexander City, where Gary graduated from Benjamin Russell High School in 1964. His baptism was with the First Methodist Church of Alexander City while in junior high-school and he considered himself a life-long Methodist.
Growing up, Gary was particularly fond of hunting, fishing, and collecting coins and currency, both modern and early American. He attended and graduated from Auburn University with a BBA (Honors) in 1968. His career path was to work for Uniroyal and Michelin tire manufacturers in Opelika and retiring from Michelin. Gary was also a retired Alabama Air National Guard Master Sergeant (E-8), with service of 37+ years.
Gary was a long-time resident of the Gold Hill community of Waverly in Chambers County. He had a passion for vegetable gardening, This resulted in lots of vegetables, which he generously provided to family, friends and neighbors. Though living in Chambers County, Gary maintained friendships and family ties in Alexander City area and for many years spent a few days each month visiting residents of the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home as a befriender.
During the years Gary lived in the Waverly area he befriended and was himself befriended by many people in the community. Always ready with numerous quips and stories, Gary could be very entertaining in one-on-one meetings, a group or a small circle gathering. He was an avid reader and an amateur historian of some merit, being interested in a wide variety of good subjects and eras, particularly that of The War Between the States. Blessed with a very good memory he could still, even late in live, recite perfectly, and in middle English dialect, the Knight’s Story from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The memory of the m Knight’s Tale was a “hold-over” requirement for him, learned in Mrs. Crokett’s English Class at BRHS.
Ion 2024 Gary changes his residence from the Gold Hill community to Arbor Lake Nursing Home in Auburn, He enjoyed the company of other residents, and he enjoyed being an unofficial greeter of visitors to the facility, welcoming them to the home and advising them to drive carefully when they left. Simply, Gary liked people. He was always seeking the company of new and old friends.
Gary passed at Lee County Hospital, Opelika, AL, He is survived by his daughter Katie and his ex-wife, Margie, Of Seattle Washington; two brothers, Rodney (Jo) Huffman of Athens, AL, and Rex (Ella) Huffman, of Auburn; a sister, Karen Huffman of Alex City; a niece, Michelle (Aaron) Deem of Madison, AL; two-grand-nephews Damian Huffman-Powell, and Barron Deem of Madison, AL; and several cousins
Visitation is Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 11: am to 12:30 pm at Radney Funeral Home in Alexander City, AL. The chapel service will follow at 12:30 pm.
The family requests that instead of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Radney Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Thurman Gary Huffman.
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