Rochanne (Rocky) Thornton Obituary

Rochanne (Rocky) Thornton, was born July 26, 1928, in Los Angeles, California. She passed away on March 7, 2026, while residing at her daughter's home in Kearns, Utah.

Her parents were David Leifester, and Ada Clark. She grew up during the great depression, and she learned to be very frugal. Rocky was an only child, and she lived in LA and Santa Monica, California until the age of 15. Her mother was from Utah, and she brought Rocky back here to live with her grandma in Salt Lake City. She met and married Clark Thornton on September 20, 1946. They were married 62 years at the time of his death in October 2008. They were the parents of six children.

She and her family lived in East Carbon from June of 1959 to June of 1968. She worked in the Dragerton Department store, while raising her children. After the family moved back to Salt Lake she began the adventure of a lifetime, teaching children.

This job was the most rewarding. She was a director and teacher at the Little Red Schoolhouse Montessori School, for 33 years, from 1969 to 2002. She was lovingly called Miss Rocky. Working with young children was a wonderful experience and she was a great mentor to many children and teachers over the years.

Rocky held many positions and jobs over her long life. She retired at the young age of 88. She drove her car until the age of 93.

During her life she worked in retail, did office work, she was a boss, a teacher, a mother, and one of the best grandmother's around. She was a hard-working, God-Fearing Woman and she lived by the Golden Rule. She always had a positive attitude, she loved life, and was very thankful for the blessings she received.

She took up scrapbooking years ago and she worked diligently on photo albums for her family. They all have these keepsakes made with love.

Her family has a great deal of love for her, and they will miss her dearly.

Rocky is survived by her six children, Christie, David, Stephen, Ceanne, James, Cindy, and their spouses that are still living. She has 22 living, biological grandchildren, 39 biological great grandchildren, and three great, great, granddaughters. She was so proud to be here long enough to have five generations living.

She has many, many, loving step grandchildren that she considers her own. She lovingly accepted these children into her family. She also has her best friend Virginia's seven children and their children that she accepts as her own. She loves being grandma to all of them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather John Bruno, her husband Clark Thornton, and a grandson Tyler James Thornton.

Rest in peace thou good and faithful servant.

Thank you to Aspire Health and Hospice for their kind and loving care for the past two years. Especially our favorite nurse Kim!

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with a viewing held at 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Memorial Estates 5850 S. 900 E., Murray, UT.

Evening Viewing will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Internment will be at Bountiful City Cemetery immediately following funeral service.