Jean Diane Thornton

Jean Diane Thornton, 81, of Ellensburg, passed from our presence on October 13, 2026. Jean was born on April 14, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Redlands High School in 1963, and graduated from San Jose State University in 1967 with an English degree and an elementary school teaching credential. Jean taught for thirty-one years in the San Jose, CA school system.

Jean married a fellow teacher in 1976, having one child, Kristin Portilla Shaw. Jeannie was widowed in 1991. In 1996 she met Gary Thornton, married in 2000, retired from teaching and moved to east Texas.

In 2005, she and Gary relocated to Ellensburg to be near their future Grand-Girls. While in Ellensburg, Jean was a 20 year CASA Ad Litem volunteer and active in CWU Ladies Luncheon group.

Jeannie is survived by her husband of 26 years, Gary, her daughter Kristin Shaw (Rusty) and three grand girls, Makena Shaw, 18, Kinsley Shaw, 15, and Jameson Shaw, 11; two step daughters, Lori Libby, and her daughter Rebekah, of Livermore, CA and Shari Robertson of San Mateo, CA and her two daughters, Sara and Lisa.

A Celebration of Life is anticipated for the Spring 2027.