JANE 'EVELYN' THORNTON, 92 Thornton-Holcomb Funeral Home

LAKELAND - Mrs. Jane 'Evelyn' Thornton passed away Monday, March 28, 2016 in Lakeland. She was born Jan. 10, 1924 in South Bend, IN to Morris and Elizabeth Marks. She and her husband owned Thornton-Holcomb Funeral Home for many years in Lakeland. Mrs. Thornton was instrumental in helping to start the first YMCA in Lakeland. The first meeting to discuss starting the YMCA was held at the funeral home. She was also a dental hygienist and a member of First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, 'Pete' R.L. Thornton; and a son, Mike Thornton. Survivors include her sons, Leslie Dean Thornton, Douglas Warner Thornton (Donna) and Steven Morris Thornton (Dara); sisters, Frances Harbaugh and Roberta Louise Billotte; grandchildren, Heather, Les, Hope, Valerie, Doug Jr., Brian, Paul, Hagen and Daniel; great grandchildren, Ambriel, Azariah, Annabelle, Junior, Grace and Ray; daughter in law, Angelique Thornton; caregiver, Donna Jeffords. Visitation will be Friday from 2-3 PM at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home at Serenity Gardens, 3350 Mall Hill Drive. Funeral Services will follow at 3:00 PM in the chapel.