MACKIE THORNTON JR.

Mackie Thornton, Jr., age 70, a resident of Pittsburg, Kan., died Thursday, March 24, 2011, at the St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.

He was born July 27, 1940, in Rockaway Beach, Mp., the son of Mackie Thornton Sr. and Beatrice Gertrude Irwin Thornton.

He grew up in Rockaway Beach and rural Fort Scott, Kan.

Mackie was a 1959 graduate of Fort Scott High School. He attended Fort Scott Junior College, later going into the U.S. Army, serving in Germany during the sixties.

He married Claudia Helen Parker of Fulton, Kan., on Aug. 18, 1968. They were married for 30 years before she preceded him in death on Sept. 7, 1997.

In addition to his service in the military, Mackie was employed by Gulf Oil, International Paper and Masonite.

Recently he was employed in general maintenance and repair at Pitsco in Pittsburg. He was an active member of the Nazarene Church, Pittsburg, Kan.

He also enjoyed outdoor activities, especially fishing, and loved attending sporting events of family and church friends, as well as listening to music by Ray Stevens and Jerry Clower.

He is survived by two daughters, Christy Smith and husband Kevin, Pittsburg, Kan.; and Jennifer Roberts and husband Ronnie, Fort Scott, Kan. Five grandchildren survive, Matthew Smith, Pittsburg, Micheala Everitt, Girard, Kan.; Jerica, Jasmin and Damian Roberts, Fort Scott. Also surviving are two sisters, Shirley Bower and husband Roy, Irvine, Calif.; and Beverly Headley, Brandon, Miss. Surviving nieces include Rebecca (Bower) Harry and husband Jonathan, Huntington Beach, Calif.; Christine Bower, San Diego, Calif.; Rena (Bower) Thompson, Irvine, Calif.; Debbie Kizziar, San Marcos, Calif.; Lisa (Headley) Cain, Gulfport, Miss. One nephew, Blake Headley and wife Kelly survives, as well as great nieces and nephews, Jordan, Walker and Sarah of Jackson, Miss.

Additional survivors include sister-in-law, Martha Parker, Fulton, Kan.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, David and Ruby Wheeler, Joplin, Mo.; and Edward and Darlene Parker, Russellville, Ark.; three nieces and five nephews on his wife side of the family; a great aunt, Maxine Irwin, Kearney, Mo.; and many Irwin, Thornton and Parker cousins.

Rev. Jim Sukraw will conduct funeral services for Mackie Thornton, Jr. at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott.

Military Honors will be provided by the Olson-Frary-Burkart Post No. 1165 V.F.W.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the First Nazarene Church, 816 E. Quincy, Pittsburg, Kan. They will receive friends Wednesday morning from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Pittsburg First Nazarene Church, American Cancer Society or the Sharing Bucket.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.cheneywitt.com.