Carolyn Cox Thornton born on August 27, 1931 in Texarkana, TX, died August 31, 2020 in her home of 45 years surrounded by her family, her books, cats and all else she held dear in her heart. Her family made many moves leading to her lifelong declaration that she attended six first grades and it was a wonder she could read and write!  After moving so much as a child she delighted in home and with all the things that made a house a home - books, lots and lots of books, family dinners, special finds from antique and junk stores, including anything blue, pitchers and pictures and teapots.  She also enjoyed her grandchildren, family pets, magical Christmas mornings, camp songs, foot stools, and camping at Albert Pike.

We take comfort that she joins Oris, her husband and dance partner of 56 years, in heaven and were privileged to witness their enduring love through sickness and health, along with the many ways they put each other first:  Dad by dancing and Mom by buying him his first toy train.

Carolyn showed strength throughout her life first by leaving her parents' home after graduation from Mena High School in 1949 to attend Schumpert Nursing School in Shreveport, LA.  She then worked at St. Michaels Hospital in Texarkana, before working and completing a degree in psychology at SMU.  She later worked in surgery at Polk County Hospital as she and Oris began their lives together.

She raised five daughters whose clothes she sewed, games she attended, heartaches she comforted and mistakes she forgave.  She was a working mother who made sure we "were neat and clean," and taught us the difference between wants and needs.  Her greatest show of strength was surviving the death of her youngest daughter Lesley.  She insisted that the family attend worship the very next Sunday and continued to live her life trusting God as a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Hope.  At FUMC she taught Sunday school and was a longtime member of the Fidelis Sunday School Class and United Methodist Women.   She was thankful that her mother continued her family's Methodist legacy and took her to church as a child.

She was there for the births of her six grandchildren and saved the day more than once when their mothers were tired or overwhelmed.  She had a loving lap and delighted in giving them many of their first books.  The kitchen was never more fun than when each grandchild helped "Mamere" make biscuits or tea cakes.  Backyard wiener roasts were her favorite and marshmallows were the most important requirement!

Family was so very important to Carolyn.  She loved her parents, sisters, cousins, her in laws and brothers and sisters-in-law.  Atkinson family reunions at the farm in New Boston, TX where she visited and played as a child, were the highlight of her summers.  She researched her roots and studied genealogy before computers. She was proud of her family's ancestry and loved to visit the places where previous generations lived.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lucie Mary Atkinson Cox and Chesley B. Cox, her husband Oris Bryant Thornton, daughter Lesley Day Thornton, sister Loretta Cox Stuckey and a host of other family members that we are sure she was so happy to see again.  Although we have lost our other bookend, we thank God for her life, her grace and her strength.

She is survived by her daughters Lucie, Laura, Lisa, husband Bob, Lynne; her sister Sylvia Hamer; her grandchildren Leigh, Victorine, Julien, Lesliana, Claire and Hannah; her nieces and nephews, cousins and  blue-eyed cats Rosie and Daisy.

She touched the lives of many students as an instructor in the practical nursing program at Red River Vo-tech School for 25 years.  One of her proudest career moments was being the recipient of Hempstead County Teacher of the Year in 1991.  She was proud of her nursing background, her time spent teaching, her students' success and she enjoyed seeing them in the community.

We are thankful for the love and care provided by Pattie Hanson, Shelonda Staton, Robert Wyatt, Jr. and Encompass Hospice during her final months.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Hope or to the UAHT Foundation for the Carolyn Thornton nursing scholarship.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, September 4, 2020 at Brazzel/Oakcrest The Funeral Home of Hope.

Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday September 5, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church of Hope. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  The family requests that you please observe social distancing and wear a mask.