Ernestine L. "Ernie" Thorne, 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 4th with her family by her side.
Ernie was born on November 13, 1933 in Garden City to Eston and Verma (Frost) Barber. She grew up in a happy home with four sisters, Jo Ann, Vi, Sharon, Janet, and one brother, Frankie. A friend of her brother’s, Ernie met the love of her life, Donald Thorne, whilst wearing pin curls in her parents’ home. After a brief courtship, they were married on September 16th, 1951 in Garden City. Together, they had three children, Sherry, Gayle, and Greg. Donald’s career took them from Garden City to Manhattan, and finally Topeka where Ernie got a job as a Clerk at the Kansas State Legislature. After retirement, Don and Ernie enjoyed winters in Arizona and summers traveling the country.
Ernie will be missed for her easy laugh, smiling eyes, and endless compassion. She was quick to make friends, the first to volunteer, and an eternal optimist. She was fiercely loyal to her family and friends and leaves behind an example of a life well lived.
Ernie is preceded in death by her husband, Don, her son Greg, and two sisters, Jo Ann, and Janet.
She is survived by her daughter, Sherry Leiker and husband Randy, her daughter Gayle Johnson and husband Rick, her daughter-in-law Kathy Thorne, her grandson Matthew Leiker and wife Jennifer, her granddaughter Jacklyn and husband Shawn, her granddaughter Courtney Neely, her granddaughter Nikki Thorne, her great grandchildren Alana, Alexander, Julia, Peyton, Parker, Mia, Liam, as well as countless friends.
Family will be receiving guests at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Hays on Saturday, December 7, 2019 with services following at 11 a.m. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, Hays.