Thornton, Mary Jane, 94, of Tampa died May 28, 2025. Born in Macon, Georgia, her family moved to Tampa when she was 16. She graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1949 and attended Florida State University where she was a performer with the FSU Flying High Circus. Mary Jane graduated from the University of South Florida and got a master’s at the University of Tampa. She taught school 23 years in Hillsborough County, Sasebo, Japan and Grafenwöhr, Germany. Married 71 years to Bill, who predeceased her in 2023. They travelled to 110 countries and seven continents.
Mary Jane is survived by; daughter, Sue Austin, son, Michael Thornton and his wife Julie and six grandsons, Buddy and Trevor Austin and Stephen, Brian, Kevin and Robert Thornton.
Services will be held at Blount and Curry Funeral Home located at 3207 W. Bearss Ave, Tampa on June 6, 2025. The family will receive friends at 12 pm and the service will begin at 1 pm. Graveside service at 3 pm; Garden of Memories, 4207 E Lake Ave, Tampa.
