Erelene E. Thornsberry, of Crocker, departed this life to a better place Friday morning, September 14, 2012. She was born on March 19, 1923, the daughter of John and Helen (Whalen) Hamilton. Mrs. Thornsberry had attained the age of 89 years, 5 months and 25 days.

She was united in marriage on November 16, 1946 to Kenneth W. Thornsberry at the home of the Reverend Hicks in Waynesville. To this union, three children were born and raised. Erelene and Kenneth lived their life on the farm they bought in 1949 in the Tavern Creek Valley. She was preceded in death by her husband on July 12, 1999; her parents; one brother, Norman Hamilton and two sisters, Erma Salveter and Mary Hamilton.

Mrs. Thornsberry was baptized in July, 1957 at Schlicht's Crossing on the Gasconade by the Reverend Norman Sanders and joined the Swedeborg Baptist Church August 3, 1957. Erelene attended Warrensburg State Teachers College for two years and taught school at Sweet Home, Swedeborg and Hicks for several years. She met her husband-to-be while they were both teaching at Swedeborg, and were later married when he returned home from War II. Erelene was a loving and devoted mother, spouse and homemaker; always putting her family ahead of herself in her kind, strong, lady-like manner. Mrs. Thornsberry was a member of the Crocker Garden Club for many years and enjoyed gardening, cooking, quilting, living in the country and especially being with her family.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Thornsberry include: two sons, Vance Thornsberry and his wife, Steve Ann, Spokane, Washington; Dennis Thornsberry, Crocker and his fiancé', Margaret Trimble, Tulsa, Oklahoma; one daughter, Beth Thornsberry-Hirstein and her husband, Kenneth, Kaiser; one brother, Dale Hamilton, St. Louis; two sisters, Velma Morris, Crocker and Evelyn Deardeuff, Waynesville; three grandchildren, Sonnet Glover, Quinn Thompson and Ryan Thornsberry; five great-grandchildren, Payton, Piper, Riley, Leighton and Ashlan; and many other relatives and friends. Erelene was loved and will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Thornsberry at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 18, 2012, in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Crocker, with Bro. Billy Claiborn, Hilltop Christian Union Church, Crocker officiating. Gilbert Crismon sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace for the service and was accompanied by pianist Betty Doyle.

Interment was in the Bethlehem Cemetery, Swedeborg under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes, Crocker. Pallbearers for Mrs. Thornsberry were Billy Morris, David Morris, Jerry Thornsberry, R.M. Thornsberry, Tom Shattuck, Roger Harrison, Joe Thornsberry, Jr. and John Kinsley.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the Bethlehem Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund with envelopes available at the office of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home, Crocker.