Sidney Ross Thornton

Sidney Ross Thornton, 88 passed away Friday, May 6, 2005 at Independence Regional Hospital. Mr. Thornton was born September 19, 1916 to Silas and Elva Graves Thornton. He attended Mt. Washington School, and Lathrop High School. He was a WW II veteran who served in the European Theater under General George Patton. He married Margaret Franze of Frankfort, Germany in 1947. They loved their entire lives in the Independence-Fairmount area. He was a member of St. Ann�s Catholic Church. Sidney was retired from the Railway Express (Post Office). He was a volunteer firefighter on his days off with the old Inter-city Fire Department of Fairmount. As a young man in the 1930�s, he sang on local radio stations with his brother. They were known as "Sid and Ed - The Thornton Brothers� on stations KITE, KMBC, W9XBY in Kansas City, MO. Sidney also had a western band called "The Skillet Lickers.� They played for dances and entertainments in Independence as well as in many surrounding towns. For their first gig, a wedding, they received one dollar in payment. A third brother, Alvin "Jack� would sometimes join them to sing and play. In addition to music, Sidney loved to hunt and fish and look for mushrooms. Sidney was preceded in death by his parent and a brother, Alvin. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret; a son, Austin; a brother Edward; a sister, Elizabeth "Betty� Good, as well as nieces and nephews. Mr. And Mrs. Thornton made their home at Carmel Hills Living Center the past three years Mrs. Thornton would like to thank the Staff at Carmen Hills for their excellent care of Sidney, and also the thank his Doctors and nursed at Independence Regional Hospital.