Born March 15, 1947 in Catawba County, she was the daughter of the late Ernest B. and Helen MacLeod Clapp and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Newton.
Her greatest passion was her family, her dogs and tending to her flower garden. Her efforts were rewarded by the City of Newton for Yard of the Month.
Mary was a member of Catawba Valley R/Cer’s and loved building and flying radio controlled airplanes. At one time, she and F.E. owned Harley Davidsons and loved to ride.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, F.E. Thornburg, Jr. and a son-in-law, Brian Roseman.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Jennifer Roseman and companion, Tony Bailey, Nicole Thornburg-Lanigan and husband, Michael; sister, Suzanne DeRue and husband, Jim; grandchildren, James Winstead, Zach Winstead, Kerri Dillard and husband, Jason; great-grandchildren, Cole Dillard and Jackson Bowers; nephew, Scott DeRue and wife, Kathy; and her babies, Consuela, Princess, Sasha, and Rocky.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2019 in the Chapel of Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton, with Rev. Smith Sharpe officiating.
The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m., at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Humane Society of Catawba County, PO Box 63, Hickory, NC 28603.
