James Kenneth "Ken" Thornton

James Kenneth "Ken" Thornton, age 91, died Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at home in Albuquerque, NM surrounded by family. Ken loved woodworking, his family, and the years he spent working for El Paso Natural Gas. He was a kind and generous man known for his disciplined work ethic.

Kenneth was born October 4, 1928 in Lockney, TX to Edward Warren and Minerva Elizabeth (Goins) Thornton. He grew up in a traditional farmer family in West Texas, his very early years spent during the Great Depression. He has told many stories about the adventures of country living with an ornery older brother and the mischief they managed to get into. Kenneth graduated from Lockney High School in 1946 and started working for Higginbotham Bartlett lumber yard in his local area. On April 4, 1948, he married his high school sweetheart,

Sue Jane Blenden, in Floydada, TX. At the time of his death, they had been married 72 years. On November 22, 1948, Kenneth went to work for El Paso Natural Gas in Dumas, TX, and his working future was set. Over the span of the next 45 years, Kenneth worked in the compressor stations at Dumas, TX, Jal, NM, Midkiff, TX, McLean, TX, Blanco, NM, Chaco, NM, and the main office in Farmington, NM. He retired on February 28, 1994 as Manager of the Chaco Area-San Juan Division and missed his EPNG working experiences greatly. During his retirement, he made many beautiful pieces of furniture once he had time to renew his love of woodworking.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lois Opal Smith; three brothers, Clarence Edwin (infant), Olin France, and Warren Rae. He is survived by his wife, Sue, of the family home; son, Terrell (Lynn) of Albuquerque, NM, son, Kelton (Karen) of Flower Mound, TX; daughter, Susan Guthrie (Ed) of Garland, TX, and son, Kyle (Carol) of Albuquerque, NM; a sister, Oleta Smith (Ben) of Waco, TX; and two sisters-in-law, Naoma (Olin) of Waxahachie, TX and Vera (Rae) of Lubbock, TX; eight grandchildren, Nathan (Sarah) of Albuquerque, NM; Kathryn Burnett (Matt) of The Colony, TX; Kimberly Zaunick (Grant) of Flower Mound, TX; Dale Guthrie (Brooke) of Kingsland, TX; Clara Sue Guthrie of Garland, TX; Kenneth Guthrie of Garland, TX; Collin and Connor Thornton of Albuquerque, NM; ten great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

The family wishes to thank the hospice employees of Kindred Hospice for their excellent end-of-life care.

A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 1:00 p.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming. The Service is available via webcam and the link to the live-steam broadcast is available by clicking here: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/36321