Clayton Earl Thornton

Memorial services for Clayton Earl Thornton, 80, of Longview will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Longview with Reverend Walter Ballou officiating. Graveside services will follow at 3:30 p.m. in the New Church Cemetery in Apple Springs in Trinity County, Texas with Brother Mike Due officiating.

Clayton was born August 9, 1943 in Erie, Pennsylvania to Chester and Lucille Thornton. He had two sisters, Bonnie and Lois. Following four years of service in the US Marine Corps, he met and married Marilyn Lee. They recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. In 1976 he was ordained a deacon, a role he took seriously for his whole life. He devoted his life to teaching the Bible, mostly to young married couples, and sharing Jesus at Tuesday night visitation and through various Christian Motorcycle Association opportunities. He found great joy throughout his life, even into his time with dementia, in teasing people he loved and making others laugh. He was a big Aggie fan, mainly to antagonize his son-in-law, grandsons, and Razorback fans in CMA. His faith was foundational in his life and his discipline in starting his day with the Lord carried on into his days of dementia. He could be heard during his ramblings in his sleep to say things his family heard him pray for years, “lead, guide, and direct us,” “thank you Lord, so much for this day,” “bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies.”

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Thornton, of Longview; daughters and sons-in-law, Delicia and Rob Moccio of Sitka, Alaska, Shelly and Walter Ballou of Tyler, Texas; grandchildren, Barick Werner, Aubrey Werner, Zane Werner and fiancé Tori Kohl, Taylor Gibson and husband Aaron, Seth Ballou and wife Maddie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Lucille Thornton; and sisters, Bonnie LaBorde and Lois Escobar.

Pallbearers will be Seth Ballou, Barick Werner, Zane Werner, Casen Borden, Cody Machart, and Aaron Gibson.

The family would like to thank Hospice Plus for their care and emotional support during his last months. Kinze and Miranda were precious to us.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 42, Apple Springs, Texas 75926 or Christian Motorcyclist Association CMA c/o Clayton Thornton Memorial, P.O. Box 9, Hatfield, Arkansas 71945.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.