West Newbury - John D. Thurlow, 85, passed away on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at his home in West Newbury, from Parkinson's Disease.

John lived his entire life in West Newbury. He was born to Harold and Esther Thurlow on July 20, 1936. John attended school in West Newbury until he went to high school in Newburyport, where he graduated with the class of 1954. He then graduated from Stockbridge at UMass Amherst, studying Forestry.

John married the love of his life, Ellen, at the end of the Blizzard of 1978.

John was the 5th generation of Thurlows in West Newbury. He lived in the family home, the Chase-Thurlow Homestead, that was built in 1731. John planted a forest of red and white pine seedlings on a hill behind the house, when he was in his early 20s. They are now well over 60 feet tall!

John was involved in the family business, Cherry Hill Nurseries, from the age of 15 until he retired at 65. He was President, Treasurer for many years. His interests were the CHN Peonies and Lilacs. John and his wife Ellen belong to the International Lilac Society where they traveled all over this Country and Canada. He enjoyed meeting fellow lilac lovers from all over and seeing all the hundreds of varieties of lilacs.

John was a Veteran and served with the U.S. Army as a medic during peacetime, in 1959 and 1960. He was stationed in France and enjoyed seeing many cities, including Paris.

John belonged to the Collings Foundation and loved having rides in many WWII Airplanes, and he also loved talking about them.

He and his brother, Rick were the Grand Marshals in the 2019 West Newbury Memorial Day Parade. John raised Highland Cattle and people would enjoy coming by to see these magnificent animals in the pasture.

John was predeceased by his parents and infant daughter, Nancy Ellen; his step-daughter, Roni (Mello) and her husband Bill O'Brien, and nephew, Richard Towne.

He leaves his brothers, George Thurlow of Huntsville Al, and Richard Thurlow of West Newbury; his sister, Susan Towne of Seattle, WA; a niece Suki and nephew Michael. And of course his beloved wife Ellen.

John was the ultimate STEP - He had a stepfamily that he loved and they also loved him dearly.

His family included daughters, Robin Mello of Troy ME, Renay Krupanski and husband James of Newburyport, and Randi Walker and her significant other Michael Hicks of Amesbury; 12 grandchildren: Kristen and Ben DalPra, Audrey and Chris Stewart, Ben O'Brien, Tamara Mello, Trisha Erskine, Marcy Frontiero, Zach Pollard, Alex, Olive (Meggie) and Michael Krupanski, Grace and Gabe Walker; nine great-grandchildren, Olivia Erskine; Evelyn, Charlotte and Lydia DalPra; Reyna O'Brien; Stiles and Tayvien LaBoy; Hazel and Islay Stewart.

John was an honest, quiet man who was respected by all and will be missed by many, including his friend from childhood, John McGrath, who visited him weekly during his illness.

We would like to thank the West Newbury Fire Department for always coming to assist John when needed. Also a Thank you to the caregivers who were so helpful in helping Ellen care for her husband over these last few years, Jo'bert, Angela, Rita, Meg and Sherry.

We were thankful to have been able to have John at his home to be cared for until the very end.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, June 14, 2022 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport, immediately followed by a Service of Remembrance at 4 p.m.