Gary Thornton, entrepreneur, designer, fine artist, homebuilder, athlete, family man, and a cowboy at heart, died on April 10, 2024 from dementia. He was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, one of Jack and Evelyn Thornton’s five children. After graduating from Bartlesville High School, he attended the University of Tulsa on an athletic scholarship and graduated with a degree in commercial art and advertising.
Gary was a Renaissance man who had the courage to do a lot of things, and he did all of them very well. He was an award-winning designer and illustrator who ran a successful advertising agency and graphics studio in Austin for 35 years. During his time in the business, he produced advertising materials and commercials for many leading developers and homebuilders, high tech firms, statewide trade associations, banks, politicians, and even the world’s best-known circus.
On another front, his late first wife Gerry was always a creative and excellent cook. Inspired by some of her original recipes, the enterprising couple went into the food business, which they grew from a few pans on their kitchen’s stovetop into an international success. Their Best of the West and Simple Times, two specialty food companies, produced a number of delicious and prize-winning items such as salsas, sauces, jellies, preserves, and a unique tortilla soup, which were distributed through gourmet shops, chain stores, and mail order worldwide under the Buckaroo label. In 1998, their food companies were purchased by Hamlin Food Products.
Gary and Gerry also had a remarkable talent for remodeling, designing and building houses. Many of the places that they called home over the years are still among the finest houses in Westlake, Barton Creek and Lakeway. All of their houses exuded comfort and downhome style, because of the couple’s extraordinary level of taste.
Physical fitness was important to Gary -- a football player for the University of Tulsa Hurricanes, he loved to run marathons and he often played softball (usually at shortstop) in city leagues. He coached youth baseball teams and even into his seventies, he participated in and won statewide weightlifting competitions.
From his childhood on, he cherished the West and the magnificence of its environment. His love of the horse country in Oklahoma, Montana, and Texas, combined with his artistic talent, translated into producing an impressive body of paintings, many of which are hung in fine homes and prestigious galleries around the country. To inject his heart and soul into his artwork, he went straight to his sources for material. After he closed his advertising business in 1998, he would often visit ranches and travel around the countryside to research, study, ride horses, and “get in the way and have one hell of a good time.”
His love for the West also drew him to participation in Star Of Texas Rodeo in Austin to help raise scholarship money for Texas kids. A member of the Calf Scramble Committee, he lent his business skills to the rodeo’s operation.
Following Gerry’s death in 2002, after 51 years of marriage, Gary met Nancy Raspa, a professional accountant and businessperson. They were married in 2004. A city girl, she soon became acclimated to Gary’s love of the ranch country, and she enjoyed their excursions around the western states after they both retired.
Throughout his life, Gary was a devoted family man, and he and Gerry took great pride in their sons’ accomplishments. Seth became a successful homebuilder and Sean started a health care service business with regional scope.
Life had its tragedies for Gary, including the loss of his first wife and his youngest son, but he came through it all with a positive attitude. He kept moving on, and always had a desire to “get something done today.” He was the best friend anyone could have and a mentor to many young people. The world could use a lot more Gary Thorntons.
Gary was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Germaine (“Gerry”) Thornton in 2002 and his youngest son Seth in 2017. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Raspa Thornton; Seth’s wife, Beth; son Sean and his wife Anne in Ames, Iowa; and grandchildren Shelby, in Denver, Colorado; Jaret, in Dallas; and Jack, in Houston. He is also survived by his brother, Bill Thornton, in Northfield, Minnesota, and sisters Jean Noyes, in Naperville, Illinois; Katy Page, in Vienna, Virginia; and Debbie Sellers, in Salina, Kansas.
Written by: Forrest Preece of Good Right Arm. Friend for a lifetime.
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