Steve Thornton

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ORANGEVILLE-On Oct. 11, 2013, Steven Leon Thornton, our loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend, was taken from us by a rare type of cancer at far too young of an age.
He was born March 30, 1958 in Murray, Utah to Ira Leon and Janice LaRee Nielsen Thornton.
Steve worked his whole life to support his family, first by joining the Utah Army National Guard in 1978. After serving his country for 30 years, he retired at the rank of Command Sergeant Major following a combat tour in Iraq during the second Gulf War. He also worked for more than 30 years in the coal mines of Emery County, beginning in 1980.
He married the love of his life Debbie King on June 7, 1974 in American Fork, Utah. Their 40 year journey together brought them to Emery County in 1978 to raise their children and they have lived there ever since.
Steve was above all the “Rock” of his family, and they were his first love and greatest priority. He showed this commitment in his daily actions. He never hesitated to help anyone in need. It is impossible to capture the essence of everything he meant to his family and friends, and it is impossible to count the thousands of lives that he touched.
He is survived by his wife Debbie Thornton of Orangeville; children Jan Thornton Cook and Chris Cook of Price, and Cody Thornton and Matthew Cunningham of Melrose, Mass.; his grandchildren Mackenzie Thornton, Morgan West, and Jorden West of Price; his great-grandson James Jackson of Price; mother Janice Kolan and step-father John Kolan of Lehi; siblings Allen Thornton and Doug Thornton of Lehi, and their respective spouses Carol Thornton and Ronda Thornton; parents in-law Terril King and Mary Lee King of Payson; sisters- and brothers-in-law Jim King and Marie King of Provo, Todd King and Colleen King of Murray, and Mike Doyl and Corrin King-Doyl of Payson. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends-all dear to him. He was preceded in death by his father Ira Leon Thornton; and brothers Dick and David Thornton.
Funeral service, Tuesday, October 15, 2013, 11 a.m., Orangeville First LDS Ward (45 West 100 South) in Orangeville. Family was at Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. and at the church Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services.
Interment will be in the Orangeville City Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Utah National Guard. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Steve online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.