Hazel Thornton

SIKESTON - Hazel Lorene Winton Thornton, 91, died July 9, 2002, at the Clearview Nursing Center.

Born Oct. 20, 1910, in Piggott, Ark., daughter of the late Minnie Bell Hardin Winton and Orlum Russell Winton, she was raised in Piggott, Ark., with her four brothers and one sister, Ray, Garland, Orlum, Paul Sims and Neva. Hazel was the oldest daughter and a source of strength to the family when her father passed away at the age of 40. Following her graduation from Piggott High School, she attended business school with the help of her brother, Garland.

United in marriage to Fred H. Thornton on Oct. 13, 1929, she became the mother of three children, Janice Rice Haas, Helen Christianson Hilton and Fred Howell Thornton II. They moved to Chaffee in 1946, where she and her husband owned the Bank of Chaffee. She was a beloved mother devoted to the happiness and welfare of her children and she delighted in 11 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She and her husband spent many years in Florida following their retirement and relocated to Sikeston in 1988.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter, Janice, and her siblings.

Hazel Lorene Thornton enjoyed a full and prosperous life. Through insight and strength she and her husband, Fred, nurtured a loving and caring family and provided them with the emotional and financial foundations necessary to live fulfilling lives. She initiated family reunions that to this day are planned and attended by all her surviving descendants who will miss her guiding hand and caring love that provided footing to all their efforts.

She was a well-respected member of the community and participated in the First Christian Church of Chaffee, PEO Sisterhood in Sikeston and bridge clubs. She was a talented seamstress, artist and enjoyed creating handiwork for her loved ones including afghans for all her grandchildren. She and her husband enjoyed traveling.

Survivors include the children of her daughter, Janice: Joe Perry Rice of Chaffee, Howell Bruce Rice of Chaffee and Julianne Fels of St. Louis; her daughter, Helen, and her husband Gregg Hilton of Dillon, Mont., and her children, Dr. Erik Christianson of Ketchikan, Alaska, Kyle Christianson of Salem, Conn., Lee Christianson of Dillon, Mont., and Amy Christianson Navarro of Washington, D.C.; her son, Dr. Fred Thornton and his wife, Lynn, of Sikeston and their children, Jennifer Graves of Columbia, Dr. Heather Estopinal of Huntsville, Ala., Fred H. Thornton of Sikeston and Dr. Christopher Thornton of St. Louis; and her 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

The service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Vyron Yount officiating.

Graveside services will be at the Piggott City Cemetery at 2 p.m. Saturday. Her male grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be sent to:

the First Christian Church 230 W. Davidson Chaffee, Mo. 63740

or

the First Christian Church 1006 N. Main St. Sikeston, Mo. 63801

Paid obituary