Raybert H. Thornton

Funeral services for Raybert H. Thornton, Sr., 96, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Hardy-Oak Cemetery in Jefferson County, KS. He died on Friday, May 25, 2012 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Raybert was born on April 29, 1916 in Lamar, MO, the son of Davis and Martha (Chamberlain) Thornton.
The family moved to Lawrence in 1925. Raybert attended Lawrence schools and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1935.
He moon-lighted his 440 acres farm 53 years and worked full-time for 47 years at the Lawrence Journal-World.
Raybert belonged to the Masonic Lodge #9, Scottish Rite Bodies Abdallah Shrine Temple in Kansas City, KS, Lawrence Shrine Club, Jayhawk Fire Brigade, Travelers Protective Association, Eastern Star #7, and Fraternal Order of Eagles #309.
He married Allyne Holyfield daughter of Jim and Joezie Holyfield, Lawrence on July 15, 1938. She preceded him in death May 17, 1992.
Survivors include their four children, Raybert Thornton, Jr., and wife, Carolyn, Byron, CA, Cheryl Brite, and husband, Bill, LeRoy, KS, Sheila Thornton-McCurdy, and husband, Marvin, Ottawa, KS, and Brian Thornton, and wife, Linda, Lawrence, KS; 11 grandchildren, Paul Graydon, and wife, Ginny, Lori Thornton, John Mihoevich, Jr., Rich Mihoevich, Tracy Smith, and wife, Julie, Jennifer Campbell, and husband, Jack, Christi Quist, Eric A. Pearson, and wife, Cande, Erica Swanson, and husband, Bill, Brian Allen Thornton, and Troy Long; 13 great grandchildren; companion, Grace Meuffel, Lawrence; and Cousin, Nadine Crawford, Lee’s Summit, MO.
The family will greet friends on Tuesday from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the mortuary.
The family suggests memorials in his name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.