Stanley Thornell

Stanley Pershing Thornell, 66, passed away Tuesday, June 4 surrounded by his family.

A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held Friday, June 7, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Jim Sanders and Dr. R. Lawson Bryan officiating and Sunset Memorial directing.  The family will receive friends in the church parlor beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Stanley was born and raised in Dothan and was a 1965 graduate of Dothan High School.  He attended Auburn University where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.  He graduated in 1969 with a BS in Business and lived for seven years in Gadsden, AL before returning home to Dothan in 1976, going to work for IBM.  In 1989 he joined Merrill Lynch.  He was named Resident Director of their Dothan office in 1998 and served in that role until his passing. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and an active member of the community. Stanley loved spending time with his friends and family, and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents Pershing and Mary Ellen Tucker Thornell and his father-in-law Oral Lee Davis.  Survivors include his wife Nancy Davis; two sons, Todd Melissa Maddox, Chris Lana Sample, both of Dothan; a daughter, Anne Turner Carroll Neal of Birmingham; his beloved grandchildren – Hayes, Bo, and Tate Thornell, Mackenzie, Harrison and Annelise Barron, Davis and Grey Carroll; a brother, Mike Thornell Kitty of Wetumpka; his mother-in-law Sara Davis of Dothan; his sister-in-law Linda Davis Strange Todd of Montgomery.  He also leaves behind loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many good friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “In Christ Name” ministry at First United Methodist Church, the Lighthouse Family Retreat Organization www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org or a charity of your choice. The family would encourage everyone to consider organ donation by visiting www.organdonor.org.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to everyone that supported them throughout Stanley’s courageous attempt to recover from his March 2012 lung transplant.  The family is also so very grateful to the UAB HTICU Doctors, Nurses, and Support Staff and all of the caregivers with LTAC at SE Alabama Medical Center.