Lois Marie (Gillings) Thornton passed away peacefully Saturday, October 17, 2015. She was 90. She was born in Salem and grew up helping in her family’s grocery store. She graduated from Salem High School and attended Willamette University, majoring in music. Music was her love. She taught piano, accordion, and marimba over the years to many students, and traveled with a performing accordion group.
Lois moved to Portland in 1950 and married Kenneth L. Thornton. They were married for 47 years.
Lois was proceeded in death by her husband, Kenneth L. Thornton; parents, William and Etta Gillings; brothers, Emmett and Everett Gillings.
Lois is survived by her daughter, Jeanice (Bob), her son, Roger (Sandy), and her daughter, Janet (Mark); grandchildren, Ryan, Andrea (Jason), Colin, Caitlin, Lisa (Geoff), Michael (Amber), Sean, and Dustin; and great-grandchildren, Maximus, Kyah, Molly, Amelia, Sydney and William.
We will be forever grateful for the wonderful and loving care that our mom received by Lidia and the caregivers at the foster home, “Just Like Home” for the last 8 years of her life. She was very much loved and will be missed.
