LEBANON, Ill.––Merry M. “Missey” Thornton (nee Miller), 54, wife of Jeff Thornton, president of Illinois Great Rivers Conference UM Men, died April 26, 2015.

Missey was born January 8, 1961, to Walter and Virginia “Rowene” (nee Campbell) Miller, in Connellsville, Pa. 

On October 10, 2010 she married Jeffrey at First UMC in Lebanon.

Missey graduated from Kalaheo Reunion High School in Hawaii and went to University of Auburn on a swimming scholarship.  She was a very kind and generous person who would give the shirt off her back.  She loved her family and friends very much, but her children were her everything and that extended to her grandchildren. 

She volunteered in many organizations throughout her adult life, including, First UMC, Lebanon;  Eastern Star, O’Fallon, Ill.; St. Clair County Sunset Rotary; Lebanon Chamber of Commerce; Lebanon Garden Club; Meals on Wheels, O’Fallon; and dance instructor in Tyler, Texas, where she won a national competition.

Missey is survived by her husband Jeffrey, six children, two grandchildren, and two brothers.