TROY, KS. - Marion L. Thornton, Sr., the last surviving member of one of the area's largest families has passed away. Marion Levear Thornton, Sr., 91, of Troy, Kan., died Friday, Jan. 28. He was born August 7, 1919, on a farm near Troy, Kan., to Jeptha and Mary Lucy (Kerns) Thornton.

Marion was one of 15 children, born to Jeptha and Mary Lucy Thornton. Marion also had five older half-siblings who were born to Jeptha and Laura Nicholson, in Dekalb County, Mo.

Marion was preceded in death by all of his siblings, as well as two daughters, Donna Marie (Thornton) Beach and Mary Lucille (Thornton) Ramsey, and an infant son, Jimmy Dale Thornton.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Dorothy Kathryn (Taube) Thornton, whom he married August 29, 1939 in Savannah, Mo. Survivors also include Nona Pauline (Thornton) Jones of Mountain Home, Ark., Doris Marion (Thornton) Griffin of Wathena, Kan., Marilyn Sue (Thornton) Anderson of Louisburg, Kan., and Marion L. "Mace" Thornton, Jr., of Stafford, Va. Survivors also include 17 grandchildren, who live from coast to coast, 32 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.

Marion pursued several careers during his life. For more than 20 years, he was a beef packer at Swift and Co., in St. Joseph, Mo. Other past employment included being a member of the Doniphan County road maintenance department and as an employee of the City of Troy, Kan.

Marion's passion, however, was farming. During his younger days, he worked for several farmers in the Troy and Severance areas. He was a proficient corn shucker. Eventually, he purchased and operated a small farm north of Troy, where he primarily raised hogs, but also occasionally ran a few cattle and grew fruit and vegetable crops during the summer.

Visitation will be Friday 6-8 p.m. at The Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Troy, Kan. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Thursday. The funeral will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 5 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Courter Cemetery with other members of his family north of Troy.