Theon Thorley Obituary (1928 - 2020)

Theon Macfarlane Thorley was born November 16, 1928, in Cedar City, Utah, the second of three children born to William (Bill) Rowntree Thorley and Virginia Macfarlane Thorley. He passed away on September 6, 2020, in Cedar City at the age of 91. When he was two years old, Theon’s mother passed away shortly after giving birth to his younger sister. His father, being left with three small children, sent them to live with various family members until he married Bardella Shipp approximately four years later. Theon was taken in by George and Leona Grimshaw who had never been able to have any biological children. They were thrilled to receive him and raise him as their son. When Bill married Bardella, he brought the children back into his home. However, by that time Theon had bonded so deeply with the Grimshaws that Bill consented to have Theon live with them. Theon thus grew up as a member of both the Bill and Bardella Thorley family and the George and Leona Grimshaw family on Main Street in Cedar City, two doors apart. Theon had a beautiful voice and sang at weddings, funerals, and church meetings during his high school and college years. He spent his summers tending Grandpa Bill’s sheep on Cedar Mountain with his older brother, Howard. He met JoAnne Rollins, who was two years younger, while they were in high school. She waited for him while he served two years on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States Mission from 1948 to 1950. In June 1951, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George Temple. Theon graduated from the Branch Agricultural College (BAC) and then earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from BYU. He served for two years in the Air Force, stationed in Korea and Japan. In 1956 Theon and JoAnne moved to Southern California where they lived and raised their family for 30 years. Theon worked for Bank of America and later Hughes Aircraft. During their time in California, he served in the LDS Church as Bishop, counselor in a Stake Presidency, and as Stake Patriarch. After retirement in 1986, Theon and JoAnne served two missions for the LDS Church in Cebu, Philippines and in the Oakland, California Temple Visitor Center. After their missions, they settled in Hurricane, Utah. For the past four years, they have lived with their daughter JoLinda and her husband Mark in their home in Cedar City where Theon passed away. Approximately 25 years ago, Theon and JoAnne built a cabin on their family ranch land which has become a lodestar for their children, grandchildren, and a rapidly increasing number of great grandchildren, all of whom love and honor Theon and JoAnne. Theon set a standard of Christ-like living that will bless the lives of his posterity for generations to come. He has now joined his birth mother and both sets of beloved parents in the Spirit World where he is anxiously engaged in the missionary work occurring there in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, JoAnne Rollins Thorley, and their six children; Matthew Thorley (Janice), Las Vegas, NV; Rollin Thorley (Pam), Las Vegas, NV; Steven Thorley (Kennedy), Orem, UT; JoLinda Reynders (Mark), Cedar City, UT; Paul Thorley (Lynne), Lindon, UT; Rodney Thorley (Jana), St. Louis, MO; 27 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; and his siblings Howard Thorley, Virginia Thorley Olds, Larry Thorley, and Jim Thorley. He is proceeded in death by all of his parents, his sister Eleanor Grimshaw Heywood, and a great grandson, Samuel Welker Levie Thorley. Because of Covid-19 concerns a public viewing will not be held. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West, Cedar City. For those who cannot attend, the service will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/southernutahmortuary/live . All are invited to an open house celebration to be held immediately following the funeral services. Please visit the “Theon Thorley Memorial” group page on Facebook for more information. Arrangements are under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent at www.sumortuary.com