Mr. Cecil Ray Thornton Jr.

THORNTON, Mr. Cecil Ray Jr. - Age 58, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 4:30 PM Friday, January 27, 2023, from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 5:00 PM Elder Daniel Little Sr., officiating. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home 4:30 PM Friday. Mr. Thornton will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday. Mr. Cecil Ray “J.R.” Thornton Jr. was born in Flint, Michigan on June 30,1964 to Cecil Ray Sr. and Gertrude Louise Thornton (Clemons) Mr. Cecil Ray Thornton Jr. graduated from Flint Northern High School Class of 1983. J.R. was the life of the party and he loved to dress up, he was always sharp. He enjoyed spending time with family and was a father figure, mentor as well as protector of many of his nieces and nephews. J.R. also enjoyed fishing, playing cards, barbecuing and going to the Golden Leaf. Mr. Cecil Ray Thornton Jr. leaves to cherish his memory: the mother of his children, Tammy Thornton; daughter, Franchezka Rhe’a Thornton, both of Flint; 2 sons, Cecil Ray Thornton III of Muskegon, MI and Justin Thornton of Sarasota, FL; 3 grandchildren, Lyric Flynn, Ayanna Flynn and Lay’la Thornton; 4 sisters, Phyllis Cole and Felicia Thornton, all of Flint, Cassandra Curtis of Lansing, MI and Leandrea Thornton of Gary, IN; 2 brothers, Clemie (Tammi) Thornton of Lansing, MI and Cedric Thornton of Gary, IN; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and god-brothers, Gregory (Pearlene) Brown and Arthur (Danisha) Rowland Sr., Rodney Tipton, Walter Tipton Jr. and good friend, Reuben. Mr. Thornton was preceded in death by his son, baby Tayvion Thornton; parents Cecil R. Thornton Sr. and Getrude (Charlie) Clemons; sister, Jacqueline D. Houston; uncles, David J. Thornton, John T. Thornton, and Clemmie Thornton; aunt, Quester McNair and Patricia McNair ; brother-in-law, Eugene Cole; nephew, Tobias Thornton; and great-niece, Chaviea’ Thornton-Pearson The family would like to express special thanks to the doctors and staff of the 4th Floor CCU and the 3rd Floor Physical Therapy Team at Hurley Medical Center.

Mr. Cecil Ray Thornton Jr.

June 30, 1964 - January 19, 2023