Kathryn Irene Marmon Thornton passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving children and baby sister, early Wednesday morning, September 4, 2024.

Kathie was born on March 19, 1952, in New Brunswick, NJ, to Loren and Shirley Marmon, while stationed at the army base there. The family returned to Idaho soon thereafter, where she grew up in Caldwell with her two brothers and sister. She spoke fondly of her childhood in Idaho; the summer camping trips in McCall, learning to play piano and violin, volunteering with her church youth group, and becoming an incredible fisherwoman (according to her father).

Kathie graduated from Caldwell High School in 1970, and found her way to Pacific University in Oregon to study music education. She immediately connected with campus life, developing life-long friends, joining a sorority, and establishing a stronger love of music. She would also meet her best friend, and lifelong love, Laird Thornton there. They married in December of 1973, in her childhood church, and would go on to raise seven children.

A job opportunity brought Kathie and Laird to the Seattle region in 1982, where they would end up making their permanent home. The two, with their young and growing family, struggled for a foothold those first few years. Eventually, Laird found work as a high school choral director, and together, the two of them built a phenomenal music program that impacted the lives of countless students over 30 years.

Kathie often took care of many tasks behind the scenes in support of Laird's career, both on and off the stage. She would ensure concerts, field trips, and shows would run as smoothly as possible, coordinating everything "backstage." Laird was always quick to acknowledge that any success he experienced was because of her.

She especially loved working with the Thomas Jefferson Musical Theatre Program. Kathie thrived on battling red tape and educational bureaucracy, purchasing scores, talking through artistic ideas, getting to know and support the students, and falling in love with a new musical each year. It also gave her the opportunity to work alongside her husband. She lovingly became known as "Mama T" to most of TJ's musical theatre students - a nickname she held onto proudly.

When Kathie wasn't wrapped up in shows and concerts, she was adventuring as much as she could. She loved to travel, seeing the world with her daughters, and experiencing history in real time. If there was a castle or cemetery involved, you knew it was on her list to see. At the time of her passing, she and her sister were planning a big adventure to Scotland.

Kathie loved history and loved to share what she learned with others. Her love of history gave way to the discovery of her own family story, becoming heavily involved in genealogy. A life-long project, she was able to reconnect with cousins long-lost to time and movement, building bridges between the past and present. She fiercely believed in the idea of togetherness and did her best to stay connected to family, friends, former students - really anyone willing and able to make the time.

To her children, Kathie was fearless. There was no bump in the night or scary situation that she didn't walk straight toward. She couldn't tolerate injustice or lack of integrity and was unafraid to speak up if she saw a wrong. She loved deeply, and was fiercely committed to her family. She will be greatly and forever missed by those she left behind.

She is predeceased by the love of her life, Laird Thornton; her second grandchild, Blake Thornton; her older brother, Steve Marmon; and her father, Loren Marmon.

She is survived by her seven children Marvice Thornton, Kevin Thornton (Kristin), Kiley Thornton, Yvelle Thornton, Kerrie Thornton, Justin Thornton (Kelly), and Kirsten Thornton; her four grandchildren, Garrett Thornton, Kaylee Thornton, Soren Thornton, and Toussaint Debro Thornton; her mother Shirley Marmon, her sister Lorie Scherer (Rick); her brother Kent Marmon (Sylvia); her sister-in-law Camille Lydia (Rene); her nieces Tessi, Amanda, Karla, Gina, Melissa, Melanie and Chandlor; her nephews Toby, Nathaniel, and Donald; and an abundance of cousins and grand nieces and nephews.