Roy Thornton

Roy F. Thornton, age 79, of Texico, NM, passed away on June 14, 2018, after a long battle with cancer. Graveside services will be held at 10:00am Friday, June 22, 2018 in the Texico Cemetery with Bro. Jim Peabody officiating.

Roy was born December 11, 1938 in Muleshoe, TX to the home of Paul and Eva Thornton. He was the youngest of 11 children. He married Evie Swann on June 17, 1961 and they were married 51 years until her death in 2012. Together they had three children; Robert, Doug, and Kayla.

Roy graduated from Texico High School in 1956 and joined the Marines soon after graduation. He came home after his enlistment was up and worked various jobs until 1960. Upon his return, he went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad in the old Bridge and Building Department. In 1963, during layoff from the railroad, he joined the Army to provide for his family and served until 1966. He then returned to his job at the railroad, where he became a locomotive engineer in 1974. His fellow railroaders gave him the nickname "Thunder" which is how many people knew him. Roy retired in 1998 to take care of his wife when she became seriously ill.

Roy enjoyed following his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids to all their activities when they were growing up. He was an avid follower of the Texico Wolverines and went to every game he could, even after his kids and grandkids had graduated. He spent a lot of time researching his family history and would travel all over the country to visit courthouses or walk through cemeteries looking for clues about his ancestry. He was very excited when he found an old marriage license or death certificate from his past. Roy and Evie square-danced for many years and made a lot of life-long friends from their time spent together.

He is survived by his children; Robert and Beth Thornton of Texico, Doug Thornton of Clovis, and Kayla and Eric Zook of Waynoka OK.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many extended family members.

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