Janie Murrel Thornton

Graveside service celebrating the life of Janie Murrel Thornton, 87, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Mabank, Texas with Pastor Barry Boatwright officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2026 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Mansfield.

Janie Murrel Thornton was born on May 1, 1939 in Mansfield, Louisiana to Eldridge Lewis Gathright and Ida Jane Simmons and passed away on October 2, 2026 in Mansfield, Louisiana.

Janie was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Thornton; granddaughter, Patricia Nicole Parker, and numerous brothers and sisters.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Johnny Ray Parker (Karen), David Alan “Rusty” Parker; daughters, Terri Parker Buckmeyer, Kayla Parker Brooks, and Natalie Sulk (Luke); grandchildren, Cody Whitlock (Kristie), Chase Whitlock (Stephanie), Meredith Sparks (Adam), Ashley J. Brooks, Tyler Parker (Hannah), JR Brown (Katie), April Childress (Brandon), JC Wheless (Jennifer).

Honoring Janie as pallbearers will be Cody Whitlock, Chase Whitlock, Luke Sulc, Tyler Parker, Adam Sparks, and JC Wheless.