Jay Stewart Thornton

Jay Stewart Thornton, 56 of Shake Rag Road, Danville, left this world on September 21, 1010. He was born, the son of Kenneth and June (Lawlyes) Thornton on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1953. They preceded him in death. He grew up in lickskillet, east of Georgetown. He attended Georgetown Grade Schools, graduated from Georgetown High School in 1971, and received an Associate Degree in Horticulture from Danville Area Community College. He joined the US Navy in 1972 and served aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1975. He was very proud of his Military service. He is survived by two sisters, Susan (Richard) Riggle of Georgetown and Sharry (John) Sammons of Halls, TN. Uncle Stu dearly loved his nieces and nephews, Kimberly Jordan of Newbern, Tn, Mathew (Tracy) Riggle of Wabash, IN, John Thomas (Samantha) Sammons of Clarksville, TN and Amy (Isaac) Norman of Indianapolis, IN; also, the Greats, Kelsey Jordan, Sesiley Gardner, Caitlin and Nathen Riggle, and Jonah and Elizabeth Norman. His very special friends were Jackie Julius, Miranda and April Skimehorn and his doggie Brandy. As a young boy, he joined Elwood Friends Meeting. He worked for Shelby Motors, Kickapoo, and the Veterans Administration. Stu was a Free Spirit and lived all over the country including Alaska and Hawaii, but always loved coming home-to the banks of the Little Vermilion River. He was a devoted outdoorsman, especially enjoying the autumn, hunting, and weather-watching. He was a diehard Republican, as well as a Bears, White Sox, and Illinois Fan. A celebration of life service for Jay Stewart Thornton will be at 2:00pm, Sunday, September 26, 2010, at Elwood Friends Meeting, east of Georgetown, with Helen Thompson officiating. Stu will be laid to rest in Elwood Cemetery beside his Great-Great Grandmother. Military Rites will be performed by the Georgetown American Legion Post 203. Visitation for family and friends will be from 4-8 pm Saturday September 25, 2010 at Sunsets Houghton-Leasure funeral Home, a life celebration home in Georgetown. Memorials can be made to- The all other Wars Memorial c/o The City of Georgetown- to help build the future memorial, honoring those who serving Iraq/Afghanistan.