Sharlin Thornton

SHARLIN THORNTON Cedar Rapids Sharlin E. Thornton, 69, of Cedar Rapids, died unexpectedly Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, at St. Luke's Hospital. A celebration of remembrance will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Teahen Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at a later date in Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, Kan. Sharlin is survived by her sons, James August Thornton and Kenneth Lynn Thornton of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Phyllis (Beryl) Mills of Independence, Kan., and Diana (Mark) Melander of Topeka, Kan.; brother, Harold (Charlene) Swearingen of Independence, Kan.; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Sharlin Elaine was born Dec. 21, 1944, in Independence, Kan., the daughter of Lynn and Dorothy (Swalley) Swearingen. She attended Independence Community College in Kansas, graduating in 1964. She then worked at The Cedar Rapids Gazette as a typesetter and proofreader for 24 years until her retirement in 2007. Sharlin enjoyed gardening, sewing and ceramics. She was very artistic, which especially was shown through her paintings. She always enjoyed a challenge, but most of all she was cheerful, outgoing, helpful, kind and had an optimistic outlook on life. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.teahen funeralhome.com.