Mary Ruth Thornton

October 12, 1942 - June 21, 2020

Mary Ruth (Lynes) Thornton of Eureka, died on Sunday, June 21, 2020 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, at the age of 77. She was born on October 12, 1942, in Garden City, Kansas, the daughter of Cleo Everett and Royalyn Rosalie (Dale) Lynes. She was raised in Missouri through middle school when the family moved to Eureka. She graduated from Eureka High School. Mary shortly began working at the Eureka Rest Home as a medication aid. On August 20, 1959, Mary was united in marriage to Jerry Allen Thornton in Eureka. They made their home in Eureka. In all, Mary worked at the Eureka Rest Home, later Medicalodge, for over thirty-five years. She was a member of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Jerry of the home; children, Michael Thornton of El Dorado; and Patty Dore of Hutchinson; two grandchildren, Ammie and husband, Andre Mboule and Jaimee English; four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Dale Lynes, Betty Suszko, and Curtis Lynes. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, July 2, 2020 at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka with Pastor John Craighead of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church officiating. Masks should be worn and social distancing observed. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Jefferson Street Baptist Church or to Caring Hands Humane Society. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045 which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.