WILLIAM MURRAY “BILL” THORNTON

William Murray “Bill” Thornton gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. 1928 in Tennessee
M. U.S. Navy Veteran
D. January 26, 2004 in Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: Raymond Otha Thornton born May 26, 1896 in Dyer County, TN, son of Thomas Jefferson Thornton (1873-1938) and Glenora E. (Thompson) Thornton (1878-1901); married Effie Lou McCoules on April 24, 1922 in Dyer County, TN; Raymond died May 6, 1961 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN; buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN

According to the Commercial Appeal (Memphis TN) Monday, May 8, 1961, page 25:

“Ramond O. Thornton

   Services for Raymond O. Thornton, retired farmer of the Bonicord community near Halls, Tenn., will be at 2 this afternoon at Miller’s Chapel Church of Christ near Halls.  Mr. Thornton, who was 65, died Saturday night in Dyersburg at the home of a daughter, Mrs. J. B. Rogers.  He was also the father of Mrs. James Pierce and Mrs. Stella Clark, both of Memphis.”

  • Mother: Effie Lou (McCanless) Thornton born June 22, 1898, daughter of Walter McCanless (1874-1957) and Susan Fannie (Jones) McCanless (1870-1930); Effie died March 18, 1951 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN; buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN

According to the Commercial Appeal (Memphis TN) Wednesday, March 21, 1951, page 31:

“Mrs. Raymond Thornton Sr.

   The mother of Mrs. James Pierce of Memphis, Mrs. Raymond Thornton Sr., will be buried in Sorrell’s Chapel Cemetery at Bonicord, Tenn., this afternoon with services at 2:30 at Millers Chapel Church of Christ in Bonicord.  Mrs. Thornton, who was 52, died of a heart attack Monday.”

  • Wife: Edith Rita “Eadie” (Coffill) Kiel born March 17, 1929 in Chicago, Cook County, IL, daughter of Albert Ellsworth Coffill (1890-1943) and Lillian G. “Lillie” (Hildebrand) Coffill (1895-1939); married (1) Glenn Donald Kiel (1925-1985) on May 1, 1948 in Cook County, IL; married (2) William Murray Thorton on November 15, 1952 in Cook County, IL; Edith died November 18, 2007 in Prairie du Sac, Sauk County, WI (See section pertaining to Edith Rita “Eadie” Thornton buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Step Child (Child of Glenn Donald Kiel and Edith Rita (Coffill) Kiel)
  1. Terrane M “Terry” (Kiel) Thornton born 1948 in Illinois; Terry died December 23, 1967 in Libertyville, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Terrance M. “Terry” (Kiel) Thornton buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Siblings:
    • Raymond Otha Thornton born March 23, 1919 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN; Air Force WWII, Korea and Vietnam Veteran (August 1, 1942 – October 10, 1969); married Thelma Ida Kalz (1924-2001), daughter of Emil Theodor Kalz (1876-1946) and Bertha (Godt) Kalz (1884-1935); Raymond died January 7, 2005; Raymond and Thelma are buried in Sierra View Memorial Park, Olivehurst, Yuba County, CA
    • Frances Glenora (Thornton) Pierce born October 23, 1923 in Tennessee; married James Herman Pierce (1917-1979) on December 20, 1947 in Hernando, Desoto County, MS, son of John Thomas Pierce (1882-1967) and Willie Verlon (Laster) Pierce (1889-1945); Frances died October 29, 1995; Frances and James are buried in Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Bartlett, Shelby County, TN

According to the Commercial Appeal (Memphis TN) Sunday, October 29, 1995, page 4:

   “FRANCES THORNTON PIERCE, 72, of Memphis, retired LPN, died of cancer Saturday at Baptist Memorial Hospital East.  Memphis Funeral Home Poplar Chapel has charge.  She was a member of Wells Station Baptist Church and the Young at Heart Group there.  Mrs. Pierce, the widow of James H. Pierce, leaves a daughter, Marion Etta Kincy of Cicero, Ill., Stella Thornton of Lawton, Okla., and Louise Rogers and Martha Lou Siddens, both of Dyersburg, Tenn.; two brothers,  Raymond O. Thornton of Marysville, Calif., and Maury Thorton of Dwight, Ill., four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  The family requests that any memorials be sent to Wells Station Baptist Church or Memphis Cancer Society.”

    • William Thomas Thorton (Infant Boy) born April 18, 1925 in Dyer County, TN; William died June 17, 1925 in Dyer County, TN; buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN
    • Gerald Thomas Thornton born February 10, 1927 in Dyer County, TN; Gerald died October 30, 1983; buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN
    • Marion Etta (Thorton) (Robinson) Kincy born December 2, 1929 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN; Marion died October 21, 2003 in Carbondale, Jackson County, IL; buried in Cobden Cemetery, Cobden, Union County, IL

According to the Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale IL) Thursday, October 23, 2003, page 11:

“Marion Kincy

   COBDEN – Marion Etta Kincy, 73, of Cobden, formerly of Cicero, died at 5:22 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
   Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today in Crain Funeral Home in Anna, with Dale Cral officiating.  Burial will be in Cobden Cemetery.”

    • Annie Louise “Louise” (Thornton) Rogers born March 30, 1932 in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN; married J.B. “Red” Rogers (1922-1998) a WWII Army Veteran; J.B. is buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN; Annie died December 26, 2021 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, LA; buried in Sorrell Chapel Cemetery, Bonicord, Dyer County, TN

According to the Dyersburg Funeral Home website:

“Annie Louise Rogers
March 30, 1932 – December 26, 2021

   Mrs. Annie Louise Rogers, 89, formerly of Dyersburg TN, passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 at her daughter’s home in Lake Charles, LA. 
   She was born to the late Raymond Otha & Effie Lou McCanless Thornton in Dyer County, Bonicord TN.  Louise moved to Lake Charles , LA seven years ago to spend quality time with family.  She was a member of First Christian Church in Dyersburg.  She was an Licenesed Practical Nurse and worked at Parkview Hospital, private Doctor’s offices and later sat with patients when needed.  She loved to sew, work in her yard, canning from her garden and playing cards with the Wild Women and shop til ya drop. 
   Survivors include her daughters, Monica Rogers Meyer (David) of Destin, FL, Sandra Rogers Griffin (Brian) of Lake Charles, LA.  She was Granny to her grandchildren, Bridgette Meyer, of Shalimar, FL, Michelle Susar (Emory) of Durham, NC and Jason Griffin (Dasa) of Prague CZ and her seven great-grandchildren, Trent Tolbert, Alaina Tolbert & Alexa Vincent of Destin, FL, Amelia & Abigail Susar of Durham, NC, Brittany Frisard of Abita Springs, LA and Adam Griffin of Prague CZ. 
   In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by her husband, JB “Red” Rogers (1998), four brothers, Raymond O “Jiggs”, Gerald Thomas, Bill Murray, Tom Mac and her four sisters, Frances, Marion Etta, Martha Lou and Stella. 
   Visitation will be held on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 at Dyersburg Funeral Home from 11:00 am until 12:30 with Graveside funeral services to be held at 1:00 at Sorrell’s Chapel Cemetery, conducted by Mr. Gary Hager.  Family members will be honored to serve as pallbearers.
   The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of St. Joseph Hospice in Lake Charles, LA. And a special Thank You to Pam, Janice, Rev. Durgan, Mallie, Desirae & Colby.”

    • Tom Mac Thornton born September 12, 1932 in Dyer County, TN; married Ida Mae; Tom died April 3, 1959 in Columbia, Boone County, MO (auto accident)

According to the Kansas City Star (Kansas City MO) Sunday, April 5, 1959, page 9:

“CAR SPEED IS FATAL.
———
Columbia, Mo., Carpenter is
Victim of Crash.
———-

   Columbia, Mo., April 4. – Tom Mac Thornton, 26, a carpenter, was fatally injured as his car overturned several times on Interstate route 70 last night near the east city limits of Columbia.
   A friend in another car said that Thornton lost control of the car trying to pass him on the divided highway.  A truck driver, Richard Mueller of Warsaw, said Thornton appeared to be racing the other car and that both were traveling at a high rate of speed.”

    • Martha Lou (Thornton) Siddens born October 23, 1937 Bonicord, Dyer County, TN; married George Albert “Burt” Siddens (1935-2018); Martha died July 3, 2020 in Tifton, Tift County, GA; Martha and George are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN

According to the Dyersburg Funeral Home website (https://www.dyersburgfuneralhome.net/):

   “Martha Lou Thornton Siddens, 82, of Sumner, GA, formerly of Dyersburg, TN, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2020 at Legacy Village in Tifton, GA.
   Martha was born on October 23, 1937, in Bonicord, TN, to the late Raymond and Effie Lou McCanless Thornton.  She was a member of Sylvester Church of Christ in Sylvester, GA and was a former member of Parr Avenue Church of Christ.  Martha was an avid member of the Dyersburg High School Band Boosters and a member of the Red Hat Society, along with many of her closest friends.  She was retired from retail sales and loved travelling, arts and crafts.
   Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Fairview Cemetery with Mr. Laddie Owens officiating.  Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
   The family will receive visitors from 10-10:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Dyersburg Funeral Home.
   Survivors include her daughter, Sara “Dianne” Boyle of Sumner, GA; a son, George “Terry” Siddens (Linda) of Mesquite, TX; a sister, Annie Louise Rogers of Lake Charles, LA; three grandchildren, John Boyle IV (Andie) of Ashville, N.C., Sarah Siddens of Denver, CO and George Terrance Siddens II of Dallas, TX; and one great-grandchild, Hadley Hazel Siddens.
   In addition to her parents, Martha was preceded in death by her husband, George “Bert” Siddens.
   Memorials may be directed to Guiding Eyes for the Blind or to Wounded Warrior Project.”

    • Stella (Thornton) Jackson (of Oklahoma) born about 1942 in Tennessee; Stella died before 2021

Additional Information:

According to the 1930 U.S Census for the 2nd Civil District, Dyer County, TN, the household members were:

“Ramond (sic) Thornton, head, age 34, married at age 24, born in Tennessee, parents born in Tennessee, Occupation: farmer – general farm; Effie L. Thornton, wife, age 32, married at age 22, born in Tennessee, parents born in Tennessee; Ramond O. Thornton, son, age 9, single, born in Tennessee; Frances G. Thornton, daughter, age 6, single, born in Tennessee; Gerald T. Thornton, son, age 3 1/12, single, born in Tennessee; Willie M. Thornton, son, age 1 10/12, single, born in Tennesee; Maron Ettia (sic) Thornton, daughter, age 4/12, single, born in Tennessee”

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for C. D. 12, Dyer County, Tennessee, the household members were:

“Raymond O. Thornton, head, age 43, married, Highest grade completed: 8, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935, Occupation: farm owner – farm; Effie L. Thornton, wife, age 41, married, Highest grade completed: H-2, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Raymond O. Thornton, Jr. ab., son, age 19, single, Highest grade completed: H-2, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Occupation: mecanic (sic) – irrigation CCC; Francis Thornton, daughter, age 16, single, Highest grade completed: H-1, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Gerald Thornton, son, age 13, single, highest grade completed: 8, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Murry Thornton, son, age 12, single, Highest grade completed: 7, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Mrianatto (sic) Thornton, daughter, age 10, single, Highest grade completed: 5, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Louise Thornton, daughter, age 8, single, Highest grade completed: 4, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Tom Mack Thornton, son, age 7, single, highest grade completed: 1, born in Tennessee, lived in same house in 1935; Martha L. Thornton, daughter, age 2, single”

According to the U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:

“Name: Willie Murray Thornton; Place of Residence: Rt. #1, Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee; Mailing Address: Rt. #1, Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee; Telephone: None; Age in Years: 18 years; Date of Birth: April 26, 1927; Place of Birth: Dyersburg, Tenn.; Name and Address of Person who will always know your Address: R. O. Thornton, Rt. #1, Dyersburg, Tenn.; Employer’s Name and Address: Unemployed; Place of Employment: Unemployed; Height: 5-5; Weight: 140; Eyes: Gray; Hair: Red; Complexion: Light; Signed: April 17, 1946”

According to the Cook County, Illinois Mariage Index, 1930-1960:

“Name: Willilam M. Thornton; Marriage Date: 15 Nov 1952; Spouse: Edith Kiel; Marriage Location: Cook County, IL; Marriage License: [45009851-4FDO-48AC-9B09-8282710F4F93}; File Number: 2251071; Archive Collection Name: Cook County Genealogy Records (Marriages); Archive Repository Location: Chicago, IL; Archive Repository Name: Cook County Clerk”

According to the Dyersburg State Gazette (Dyersburg TN) Wednesday, January 28, 2004:

   “William Murray Thornton, 76, of Dyersburg, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 at the Veteran’s Hospital in Memphis.
   He was a retired TV technician.
   Survivors includes his wife, Edith Thornton of Dyersburg; three sisters, Louise Rogers and Martha Siddens, both of Dyersburg and Stella Jackson of Oklahoma; and a brother, Raymond Thornton of Yuba City, Calif.
   He was preceded in death by a son, Terry Thornton; his parents, Raymond and Effie Thornton; two sisters, Marion Kincy and Francis Piere; and two brothers, Gerald Thornton and Tom Mac Thornton.
   The family requests that any memorials be directed to the American Heart Association.”

 According to the Commercial Appeal (Memphis TN) Tuesday, January 27, 2004, page B3:

“DYERSBURG – William Murray Thornton, 76, retired television technician, died Monday at Memphis Veterans Medical Center.  Canale Funeral Directors has charge.  He was a Navy veteran.  Mr Thornton, the husband of Edith C. Thornton, also leaves three sisters, Martha Siddens and Louise Rogers, both of Dyersburg, and Stella Thornton of Oklahoma, and a brother, Raymond Thornton of California.  The family requests that any memorials be sent to the American Heart Association.”