Funeral service for Maxine Gowan Thornton, age 87, of Fayetteville, TN will be conducted at 1 PM on Monday, May 20, 2019 at Fayetteville First Baptist Church with Dr. Jon Hathcock and Bro. Ray VanNeste officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens.
Maxine was born on January 7, 1932 in Lincoln County, Tennessee to the late Hiriam Maxie and Mary Margaret Mansfield Gowan. She worked for Serbin, was a license cosmetologist, and Owned Maxine’s Hair Salon. Mrs. Thornton served as the Lincoln County Register of Deeds, was a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, and the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. Maxine passed away on May 17, 2019.
Survivors include her daughters, Melinda Carolyn Thornton (Charlie) Williams, and Tammie Thornton (Ray) VanNeste; grandchildren, Stephanie (Matt) Miller, Adrianne Monks, Richard (Christel) Honey, Thomas Monks, Sara (Colin) Carey, Ashlee Johnson, Brandon Williams, Justin Williams, Lindsey Williams, Meagan (Abel) Garcia, Jesse (Candy) Allen, Noah (Mary) Allen, Hailey Williams, Nathan VanNeste, Matthew VanNeste, Jonathan VanNeste, Benjamin VanNeste, Abigail Van Neste, and Timothy VanNeste; 29 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Christine Gowan (Hilton) Sullivan; and a brother, Billy Joe Gowan. In addition to her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Thornton in 1992; and daughters, Victoria Lynn Monks Lewis, and Angela Kaye Thornton Allen Neal.
Visitation with the family will be from 11 AM until the time of service at 1 PM at the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Cary B Sullivan Lincoln County Tribute Chair, PO Box 470, Fayetteville, TN 37334 or to the Grace Fund at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 623, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Maxing Gowan Thornton.
