THORNTON, Mary Louise (Gray) 1940-2017

THORNTON, GRAY, TRAYWICK

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 3/12/2018 at 12:36:00

Mary Louise Thornton

Visitation:
Friday, August 18, 2017 from 12-1:00 pm
Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories
Waterloo, Iowa

Funeral Service:
Friday, August 18, 2017 at 1:00 pm
Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories
Waterloo, Iowa

Burial:
Depart for Cemetery no later than 3:15 pm
Garden of Memories
3669 Logan Avenue
Waterloo, Iowa

Mary Louise Thornton was born December 15, 1940, in Shelby, Tennessee, the daughter of Harry (Sr.) and Rebecca (Traywick) Gray and was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, August 5, 2017. She was raised and attended schools in Memphis, TN. Mary was called “Sister” by her brothers and sisters.

She had the heart of an entrepreneur and opened her own Café in Tennessee which she ran until relocating to Waterloo, Iowa in 1974.

Mary was married to Willie James Thornton in DeSoto County, TN. A single-parent even though she was married, Mary moved her children to Waterloo to be closer to her brother, Eddie Lee Gray, Sr. Her sister, Betty Jean followed later to join the household so Mary could help care for her, as well. Mary provided child care in the area for many years. She enjoyed sewing crafts and was a great cook. Most of all, Mary had a passion for gardening and landscaping and was known as the “Yard Lady.”

Wherever there was a “green space” she filled it with flowers. Mary loved meeting people and was a very happy and loving lady with a “kick of spice”. She enjoyed shopping with her friend, Mrs. Harrington, and the two would rummage through second hand stores and yard sales looking for “treasures.”

Family was very important and in 1998 she held a Harris Family Reunion. Mary was an active member of her church, the Waterloo Worship Center, until dementia prevented her from attending and helping with the Sunday School Youth Ministry. However, her faith was deep and life-long and she knew the Lord as her Savior. Her favorite saying was, “I love you, but God loves you more.”

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband who passed away in 2002 in Muskegon Heights, MI; a daughter, Gwendolyn Thornton; 3 brothers: Eddie Lee Gray, Sr., Lloyd William Gray, and Ashley Thomas Gray; and a grandson, Michael James Johnson.

Mary is survived by her son, Larry D. Gray of Waterloo; 3 daughters: Maralyn P. (William) Fagan of Waterloo, Charain E. (Jimmy) Denton of Waterloo, and Freada L. Thornton of Waterloo; 1 brother, Harry Gray, Jr., of Memphis, TN; 3 sisters: Romelle Gray of Memphis, TN, Martha Echols of Memphis, TN, and Betty Jean Gray of Memphis, TN; nine grandchildren, including DeShon Johnson, Sr. who was her primary caretaker during her final months; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Source: Parrott & Wood funeral home