Lee Ann Waters Thornton

A memorial service will be held at University Avenue Church of Christ on November 19 at 3 pm.

Born in Seattle, Washington, on October 11, 1951, the first of three children to Melba and Dwight Waters, her family moved to Long Beach, California, where she spent most of her childhood. While there, her father Dwight worked to lay asphalt on the freeways of Los Angeles County. He and her mother, Melba hosted family, friends, and the church community constantly, piddled in the garden, and loved people well. Lee Ann’s life rhythms followed the examples of her parents.

Graduating from Millikan High school in 1969, while many of her peers headed to Woodstock, Lee Ann headed to Abilene, Texas, to attend Abilene Christian College, where, in 1974, she earned an education degree. While amazed by the friendliness of small town Texas, she thrived, made lifelong friends and met her husband of 51 years, Gary Thornton.

Upon graduation, Gary and Lee Ann left Abilene for Gary to pursue a career in television news in Beaumont, Texas. While there, they helped develop a children’s education program for the church they attended and loved. Lee Ann worked as a social worker in Beaumont to advocate and testify for abused children. In 1976, the couple returned to Abilene where they welcomed two daughters to the world. Their next move was to Malibu, California for Gary to attend Pepperdine University's School of Law. After time in southern California, where they enjoyed being close to the Waters family, they settled in Austin, Texas where they lived from 1982 until her death.

At every adventurous twist and turn of life, Lee Ann collected friends. She did not let people go but only added to her circle of love. This circle of love included those from college and law school, Lunch Bunch, CBS bible study friends, her Transforming Center companions, botany/wine tasting friends, Monday night girls, UA family, Providence gospel community, Rollingwood Street Walkers, Kingsland quilters, her Trader Joe’s crewmates, neighbors, and so many more.

Lee Ann cheered on Gary in his career and life, while having independence and confidence in how she spent her own time. She had a varied career, in her early years serving as a social worker for foster children who had suffered abuse. She juggled motherhood while taking jobs like sewing for friends. She acquired many titles: plant lady, substitute teacher, party planner, kid’s clothing store employee (where she bought an alarming amount of clothes for her first grandchild) and Trader Joe’s crew member. Beyond these professional roles, she was also church lady, mother to many, Alpha teacher, bible teacher and gave of herself to her circle in countless ways.

She thrived in motherhood, having Megan and eighteen months later, Chelsea. She was the perfect candidate to juggle two babies at once. Very rarely rattled, Lee Ann was confident and relaxed in her approach, and creative, keeping the girls occupied in the early days when Gary studied all day and night through law school. She raised her girls to model these behavior traits and even to the end, encouraged and cheered them in the most tender ways.

And when Jane Waters Srygley, Lee Ann’s first grandchild, made her appearance, the role of “LeeLee” became her most cherished. Later with the addition of Fletcher, and then Rosemary, she answered to “WeeWee” and “WeeDee” with great delight. She had unique relationships with each of her grandchildren, finding ways to enjoy them in activities they enjoy–reading, sports, cooking, crafts, playing outside, swimming, to name a few. Each of the grandchildren took their turn perched behind her sewing chair, watching her work magic on one of the children’s creations.

Lee Ann and Gary complemented each other well, partnering in church leadership, developing and fostering their faith, hosting in their home with ease, entertaining and loving grandchildren, and spending time together at Lake LBJ. With quick acknowledgement of their own imperfections, their devotion to each other was perfected over their 51 years. They were home to one another.

Lee Ann shared the news of Jesus unobtrusively to all around her. She had a knack for mentioning the holy spirit to others very casually. As her cancer battle progressed, her eye toward Heaven seemed clearer, with her closeness to her Heavenly Father her most profound lifeline.

Her history tells a good story, but her swiftness to share the gospel, the way her eyes disappeared when she laughed, the joy she found near a body of water, the pleasure of nurturing nature with a hose in her hand, her appreciation of a good harvest, and the way she loved openly her ever growing circle of love. That’s the story of Lee Ann. Her story will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Thornton, daughter, Megan Srygley and her husband Douglas, and their children Jane and Fletcher, and daughter Chelsea Buchholtz and her husband Scott, and their daughter Rosemary. She is also survived by her sister, Dorthy Courtney, brother, Todd Waters and wife Deanna, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and a whole community who cared for her well to the very end.

As much as Lee Ann loved flowers, she would be delighted for donations to be made to Transforming Center, a ministry that immensely enriched her faith. Find details at:

https://transformingcenter.org/thorntonmemorial for the “Lee Ann Thornton Memorial,” or send donations to the Transforming Center, 400 W. Roosevelt Road Suite 100, Wheaton, IL 60187 with a memo for “Lee Ann Thornton Memorial.”

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1.16