OBITS: Daily Herald 18 Jun 2005; Provo, Utah co., Utah

text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project
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Source: Daily Herald http://www.daily-herald.com

Thorn, Blaine R.
Blaine R. Thorn, 78, quietly left this life on Thurs., June 16, 2005. A
compassionate, caring, outgoing man, Blaine loved unconditionally and extended
his friendship to everyone he met. All who knew Blaine considered him a
friend. He will be greatly missed. A resident of Springville, Utah for most of
his life, Blaine was born September 15, 1926 in Spring Canyon, Utah (Carbon
County) and raised in Springville. He attended Springville schools and BYU in
addition to serving in the US Navy during World War II. Blaine served as
president of the studentbody at Springville High School, where he fell in love
with the studentbody secretary, Shirley Johnson. Blaine and Shirley were
married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on September 9, 1946. They lovingly raised
six children. During the 59 years they spent together, their family grew to
number 40 people including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and
those who married into the family. Blaine was careful to show his love to each
one individually. The family remains close today largely because of the legacy
of family activities at the cabin, Lake Powell, or elsewhere in Southern Utah.
He loved being outdoors, especially with his family. Blaine spent 35 years in
a career as an Allstate Insurance agent working out of the Provo Sears store
and later from an office in his home. He had policyholders throughout the
state and seemed always to remember each person's name. It was a perpetual
family joke that you could never go anywhere with Blaine without running into
someone he knew, often they were clients. He would always stop to say hello. A
Bishop in two different wards and a Stake Presidency member, Blaine served
faithfully in many leadership positions in the LDS church. He also served a
mission in San Diego with his companion, Shirley. His life revolved around
faith, family, and friends. He lifted and strengthened others through his
leadership, friendship, and love. Blaine maintained his warm and caring nature
throughout his life, even in the last stages of a long struggle with
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The family wishes to thank Art City
Nursing and Rehab Center and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their compassionate
care during the last few months of Blaine's life. He is survived by his wife,
Shirley, and their children: Patricia and Gary (Ellis) of Mapleton; Randy and
Janet of Humble, TX; Brent of San Francisco, CA; Craig and Sarah of
Washington, D.C.; Jenette and Don (Swain) of Springville; and Brian and
Lynette of Salt Lake City. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 9
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Orland Elwood
and Millie Saphrona, sisters Lois Thorn and LaRayne Bird, and brother Ted
Thorn. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 20, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. in
the Springville Stake Center (approx. 600 E. 300 S.). Friends are invited to
attend the viewing at the Wheeler Mortuary (211 E. 200 S., Springville),
Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. or at the church on Monday from 9:45
a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. In
lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending a donation in Blaine's name to
the Alzheimer's Association at 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL
60601-7633 or at www.alz.org. Condolences may be sent at
www.wheelermortuary.com
Published in the Daily Herald on 6/18/2005.