Norma Mae Thornley

Norma Thurgood Thornley

Our loving mother, grandmother, great and great-great-grandmother, Norma Mae Thurgood Thornley, 91, passed away on Sunday, December 19, 2010.

Mother was born December 9, 1919, in West Point, Utah. She is the daughter of Rowland and Milliezer (Millie) Parkin Thurgood.

She spent her childhood in West Point and graduated from Davis High School in 1938. She married Rulon Layton Thornley on June 28, 1939, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Together they raised three daughters and two sons residing on Dawson Street in Layton, Utah.

She was a strong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many church positions, including serving in the ward Primary presidency and being the Relief Society President. Rulon and Norma completed two LDS missions. One in the Arizona Phoenix mission and the second to Nigeria Africa and Bristol England mission.

Through out her life, she enjoyed reading, crocheting, embroidering, knitting and spending time with her family and friends. In her declining years, she suffered from dementia and even though she lost her ability to recall names and faces and her ability to converse with people, she still had a quick smile and giggle for those she came in contact with.

She is survived by her five children, Linda (Bruce) Sparrow, Layton; Nancy (Dennis) Layton, Clinton; Janet Hoskins, Clinton; Neil Rulon (Karla) Thornley, Buffalo, TX; Mark Rowland (Terrie) Thornley, Layton; 23 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; one step-great-great-grandchild; and three great-great-grandchildren on the way.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Rulon; parents, Rowland and Millie Thurgood; three brothers, James Edward, Ulyss Raymond, and Merrill Rowland Thurgood; three sisters Beatrice Page, Cumorah Alder and Iris Ruth Smith; one grandson, Dustin Thornley; and one great-granddaughter Kara Kendall.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road. Friends may visit family on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Church General Missionary Fund.

For the past eight years, Norma has lived at Chancellor Gardens Assisted Living in Clearfield, Utah. We would like to thank the staff for the excellent care they have given mother during this time. We would also like to thank the staff of Inspiration Hospice.