AUDREY LEAH (MCLELLAN) THORNTON
GREENVILLE- Audrey Leah (McLellan) Thornton, 91, died August 22, 2010, at C.A. Dean Hospital in Greenville. She was born the first child of Arthur and Hazel McLellan, July 9, 1919 at Kai-o-Waza Lodge on Farrar Lake, Topsfield, Maine. Audrey was educated in local schools, graduating from Lee Academy. She continued her education at Washington State Normal School in Machias, and graduated from University of Maine at Orono. The first year of her teaching career was at South Princeton. She also taught for 8 years at the Topsfield Elementary School. Audrey completed her career by teaching for 22 years at Greenville Elementary School, retiring after more than 30 years in 1978. She took great pride in the teaching of her students and enjoyed seeing their successes as young adults. During her retirement years, she experienced endless hours working in her magnificent flower gardens.

She held leadership positions in numerous organizations; local, state and national teacher associations, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Alpha State. She was also an active member of the Union Evangelical Church, having served many years as a deaconess and on many various committees. Audrey lived her life with grace, dignity, and faith. She was very thankful for her busy and full life as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, aunt, teacher, and friend. She became the loving and devoted wife of Vaughn Thornton in 1941. This union produced four sons and a daughter whom she dearly loved.

Besides her husband of Greenville, she is survived by two sons, Michael and his wife, Judith of Greenville Jct., and Greg and his wife, Jayne of Falmouth; a daughter, Robin of Greenville; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren whom she cherished deeply, Michael II and his wife, Jackie of N. Waterboro, Mitchell and his wife, Vanessa of GA, Nicholas and Elizabeth of Portland, Stefanie of Greenville, and Kristin and Casey of N. Waterboro; also many nieces and nephews, who were very special to her. Audrey was predeceased by an infant son, a son, Jeffrey, and a brother, Roger McLellan.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 11 am to 12 pm Saturday, August 28, 2010 at the Union Evangelical Church in Greenville where a memorial service will be held at 12 pm with the Rev. Dr. Robert Veon officiating. Those who wish to remember Audrey with a contribution may donate to the Jeffrey B. Thornton Scholarship Fund at the Greenville High School, P.O. Box 100, Greenville, ME 04441. Arrangements by Crosby & Neal, Greenville. For an online guest register, go to www.CrosbyNeal.com.