Lavada Langley Thornton

Lavada was born in November 3, 1934 in Normangee Texas to Demcy and Annie Wilkerson. She passed, November 19, 2024 at the age of 90.

Graveside services are at Northlawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Friday, November 22, at 2:00pm. Steve Swanson officiating. She is survived by her children; Gary Langley and wife Debbie, Donna Livingston.

Grandchildren; Jack and wife Lacy, April Hendrick and husband Jeremy, Lori Alexander and fiancé Kody Kinikin, Kayla Scott and husband Jacky, Great Grandchildren; Katie Langley, Aiden Hendrick, Rowan Langley, Tyler Hendrick, Patric Alexander, Karli Alexander, Jesse Ashcraft III.

Proceeded in death by her parents; Demcy Wilkerson and wife Annie, Husbands; Johnnie Langley, Carl Thornton, Son in-law; Eddy Livingston. Sisters; Gracey Bevel, Benny Bladegraves, Jewel Biddle, Loreen Mitchel, Vernnie Miller, Vallene Cain. Brothers; Vestus Wilkerson. Sullivan Wilkerson, Marvin Wilkerson.

Lavada was raised at Levelland Texas with 6 sisters and 3 brothers. This is where she met and married Johnnie Langley on November 12.1951. They moved to El Paso where they were stationed in the Army. Then they moved to Dumas in 1953 to work at Shamrock refinery. They had two children, Gary and Donna. They have fond memories when their mother would awaken them for school by turning on the record player, playing country music. Like “happiest girl in the whole USA”, or “Kiss an angel good morning”. Johnnie passed away in April 1979.

Lavada married Carl Thornton, July 30,1982. Carl and Lavada were members of First Baptist Church in Dumas. They lived a happy life and stayed busy with their Red-Carpet laundry and several rent homes. They loved going to the coast with Jack and Shirley Thornton, where they spent several winters. Lavada and Shirley enjoyed quilting, while the men fished. Carl and Lavada loved to spoil the grandkids with gifts, especially at Christmas and Birthdays. Carl passed away in September of 2008.

Lavada was an excellent seamstress. She made prom dresses, and a beautiful wedding dress for Donna, and the attendees. She made very fancy dresses for each of the granddaughters, April, Lori and Kayla. She was also a wonderful cook. She had a secret recipe for pecan pie, that we all loved. April asked her for the recipe years later, we then found out the recipe was on the bottle of karo syrup.

Lavada was devoted to both husbands and loved and cared for her children, and grandchildren. The Great Grandkids call her GG. Our mother lived a full life, she was loving, kind and caring. She had some struggles in her life with losing two husbands, fighting cancer three times, and now having a bad fall. We are thankful she is no longer in pain. We will miss her here on earth but know we will see her again in eternity.

The family requests with gratitude, memorials be made to Memorial Hospice, 209 S Bliss, Dumas, TX 79029 or favorite charity.