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Dollar Bay: Thomas R. Thornton, 87, of Dollar Bay, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Portage Pointe in Hancock.
He was born on December 17, 1931 in Hancock to the late Patrick M. and Violet D. (King) Thornton. He was a graduate of Houghton High School and then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech.
Tom entered the United States Army for 2 years during the Korean Conflict with a rank of PFC. He returned home to work at Thornton Construction Company, later starting Superior Sand & Gravel Company. He served as it’s president until he retired.
He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church of Dollar Bay and also attended the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock most recently. He enjoyed snowmobiling, grooming many of the local trails for many years. He also liked boating and was a life member of the Isle Royale Boaters Association. He also often enjoyed going to coffee with his friends locally.
Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by three brothers, James, Patrick, and John; a niece Christine; and a nephew Joseph.
He was a devoted uncle to his nieces and nephews: Pat (Diane) of Houghton, Margaret of Chassell, Michael (Joan) of Hancock, Nancy (Walter) Segsworth of Vancouver, BC (Canada), Mary Ann Nimmo of Grand Junction, CO, Daniel (Barb) of Livonia, and Kathy of Surprise, AZ; and by many other great nieces and great nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with Rev. Father William Ssozi to officiate. Spring burial will be in the family lot of Forest Hill Cemetery in Houghton.
Friends may call at the church from 9:30 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. on Saturday before the mass.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to St. Francis of Assisi Church, C/O Resurrection Parish, 900 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930 in the name of Thomas Thornton.
The family would like to thank Dr. David Kass and the staff at Portage Pointe for their kind and compassionate care during his stay there.
Funeral arrangements are being handled from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.
