Dorthy Fern Taylor Thornton

Services for Dorthy Thornton, age 86, will be held on Wednesday, June 26 at 3 p.m. at the Grants Church of Christ located at 920 N. 1st. St., Grants, NM. Dorthy passed away on June 22, 2019 in Grants, NM.

Dorthy was born in the tiny farming community of Red Star, OK and was the 7th of 8 children. They always had work to do but also had time for enjoyment. She learned how to play their piano by herself and became quite proficient playing by ear.

Dorthy became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1954 and later married Bill Thornton in 1956 while he was stationed in Germany. She supported him while he attended veterinary school and they had 4 children over the years.

They moved to Grants, NM in 1966 and bought a veterinary practice on Airport Road in Milan. Dorthy and the kids all worked there doing whatever was needed for large and small animals. Later, they built a small animal practice on Lobo Canyon Road in Grants.

Dorthy also enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers and volunteered at the Grants Community Garden and the Grants Pantry for several years. Bill and Dorthy helped many people over the years in the Grants area in various capacities.

The family attended the First Christian Church in Milan for several years and most recently attended the Grants Church of Christ. Dorthy also helped with the weekly Sunday service at Good Samaritan for many years, including while she was staying there in recent months.

Dorthy was preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Minnie Taylor, 3 brothers, Avery Taylor, W.D. Taylor and Buddy Taylor as well as 3 sisters, Alene Partain, Evelyn Bentley and Wanda Hamilton.

She is survived by her brother Buel Taylor; daughter Lisa (Charlie) Kirk and their children Caitlin and Cody; son Neal (Laura) Thornton and their children Alisha, Rob, Steve and Callie; daughter Karen (Dave) White and their daughter Mallory; and son Les (Shelley) Thornton and their children Callie and Cole. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren A.J. and Seth Rivera and Davian Thornton.

Dorthy will be buried next to her husband in the Red Star Cemetery, southwest of Leedey, OK.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to the Good Samaritan Society in Grants or the Grants Church of Christ.