Nora Jean Thornton

Nora Jean Thornton went out of this world as she came in. As beautiful and silent as a butterfly. Born May 31st, 1957 in Seattle, WA to Doris Richards (nee Grove) and Marvin L. Richards (both deceased). Nora was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Guy E Thornton III. They shared a love of singing, music, attending concerts, travel, walking on the beach, playing cards and board games and watching movies. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was always quick to smile and laugh. She is also survived by her daughter and best friend, Sara, brother Dennis Richards (wife Judy), brother Gordon Richards (wife Carol), brother Rick Richards (wife Donna), mother in law Jean Thornton, sister in law Kris Gillespie (husband Dave), sister in law Kathy Bentall (husband Rob), and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Jerry. Nora was raised in Seattle and attended Lincoln High School with her brothers and cousins. She went to college at North Seattle Community College & Lutheran Bible Institute. Nora worked as an orthodontist assistant, a certified gemologist (and the only person ever to ace the test) where she sold jewelry at Jafco, a nanny, and an administrative assistant at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and Edmonds United Methodist Church. She also home-schooled Sara from 2nd-12th grade, which was one of her proudest and treasured times. Family was the most important thing to Nora and she would drop everything for those in need. She was the glue, binding her extended family together. Nora was a devout Christian and loved the Lord! She had many miracle experiences that shaped her faith over the years. After hearing about some of her experiences, the hospice chaplain said that she believed that Nora has had one foot in heaven and one foot on earth her whole life! Nora was taken at a young age by metastatic breast cancer, but her FAITH in miracles, overriding HOPE in the face of insurmountable odds and the TRUST she had in the Lord, her family, and her care team never wavered. Bequests should be donated in her name to: Metavivor.org