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Eytoile Nancy Thornton 82, of Warren, Michigan passed away Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Pomeroy Living Skilled Rehabilitation Center in Sterling Heights after a long illness. She was born July 4, 1942 in Detroit to the late Eytoile (Burlingame) and Raymond J.C. Buckmaster. It is fitting that her name meant “star” as she brightened the lives of all she met with her love, kindness, and generosity. She attended High School of Commerce in Detroit and then finished her schooling at Fitzgerald and Hazel Park High School. She married Alfred V. Thornton April 7, 1960 at Missionary Tabernacle in Detroit; they were married for over 60 years prior to his passing. She traveled with her husband Al during his military service and they lived in Germany before moving back to Michigan to raise their family.
In their retirement, they split their time between Warren and their summer home in Calumet. She was an active member of Calumet United Methodist Church. Eytoile enjoyed crocheting, writing, playing cards, and bowling. She was always there for her friends and family and could often be found attending school and sports functions for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her son Al (Karen) Thornton, her daughter Eytoile (Kurt) Phillips, her grandchildren Laura (Dylan) Schneider, Melissa (Paul) DeSimone, Brian (Jessica) MacDougall, Eytoile Dancy, Troy (Rachelle) MacDougall, Sarah Thornton, William Thornton, Cassidy Phillips, Destiny Phillips, Amber Phillips; her great-grandchildren Collin Dancy, Nicole MacDougall, Gabriel Thornton, Annabelle DeSimone, Mirabel Schneider, Desmond Schneider, Christopher MacDougall, Abigail Denis, and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfred V. Thornton, and her siblings J.C. Buckmaster, Melvin
Buckmaster, Shirley Cordes, Sally Ann Arnold, and Julia Lee Queen.
She will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery in Calumet Michigan at 11:00 AM on November 7, 2024.
