Brenda Liz Thurman

(Age 43)

Died unexpectedly on January 18, 2016. Brenda was born August 28, 1972, in New York. During her military career, she called many places home until she and her family settled in Spokane Valley.

She enlisted in the Army in 1995 and became a Military Police Officer. She was a patrol officer, Team Leader as well as a Desk sergeant. Some of the many schools she proudly attended and completed while on active duty, were the Special Reaction Team (SWAT) and Sniper School. She was the only female in her sniper class which was made up of all branches of service.

She met her husband Dwayne, who was also active duty military, while they served together on Johnston Island. Their 18th wedding anniversary will be Feb 14th.

After her service, Brenda earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a degree in Business Administration at Eastern Washington University where she received the Frances B Medallion Award and was on the National Deans List as well as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

She worked for Department of Social and Health Services for three years as a social worker and supervisor. During that time Brenda also volunteered as a court appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children. From 2007 to the present she was a Marriage & Family Therapist and did Readjustment Counseling at the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane Valley, often acting as the Team Leader.

Brenda had a huge impact on many veterans’ lives. She ran many groups and was very proud of her Vietnam Veteran group and starting the first ever female combat veterans retreat. Brenda was on the VA Cemetery Governance Committee and helped with the creation and location of the Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. This is just one of many affiliations she was involved with to help better lives in the Veteran community.

She lived an active lifestyle, running half and full marathons as well as Spartan races with her husband and friends.

She is survived by her husband Dwayne Thurman; her daughter Gabrielle Thurman; and sons Michael & Creighton Thurman; her granddaughter Tailaya Thurman; her mother Raquel Rodriguez; life-long friends Mike and Connie Stauffer; and numerous extended family members.

Services will be held at 1 pm, Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Valley Assembly of God Church, 15618 E Broadway Ave, Spokane Valley, WA.