Services were held March 6 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Mary Margery Thornton, 87, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Jefferson.
Words of comfort were offered by the Rev Julie Poulsen, pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Danille Curtis was pianist and soloist. Honorary casket bearers were Jocely Nelson, Lily Pohlman, Sophie Pohlman, Caroline Pohlman, William Berg, Jackson Berg, Grant Shell, Dillon Shell, Henry Nelson and Patrick Nelson.
Casket bearers were Dan Shell, William Berg, Grey Dewey, Ryan Nelson, Dennis Wilkins and Alan Jackson. Interment was at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery.
Mary Margery Thornton, age 87, died peacefully on March 3, 2018, at Mercy Hospice House in Cedar Rapids surrounded by her family.
Mary M. Thornton, always known as Marge, was born August 10, 1930, in Ralston to Mary Elizabeth Hennen Wilkins and Charles Winfield Wilkins.
Marge served customers part-time at United Foods and then fulltime for 30 years at Brenton Bank. After retiring, she worked many other part-time jobs until the age of 80. She really enjoyed card games, bowling, dancing, watching basketball and her family. Children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren were her favorite part of life.
In 1949 she married Wayne R. Thornton. They were the parents of two daughters, Carolyn Barnes (Bob) of Cedar Rapids and Judy Shell (Brian) of Urbandale.
Marge is survived by her daughters Carolyn and Judy; grandchildren Stacy Pohlman of Marion, Laura Berg (William) of Parker, CO, Ryan Nelson (Jo) of Smyrna, GA, Gwen Shell of Santa Monica, CA, Katie Shell Dewey (Greg) of Urbandale, and Dan Shell (Jen) of Clive; great-grandchildren Jocely Nelson, Henry Nelson, Patrick Nelson, Lily Pohlman, Sophie Pohlman, William Berg, Jackson Berg, Grant Shell, and Dillon Shell; as well as nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Charles; her ex-husband Wayne; brothers Harry Wilkins and Rusty Wilkins; and sisters Helen Sibaugh, Mildred Sexton, and Louise Reichow.
The family thanks Mikeala at Promise House Memory Care and all those who blessed her life throughout the years. She will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family will donate memorials to Dementia Society of America.
