A memorial service for Mr. Ford McRee Thornton, Jr., will take place on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11am at the chapel of GEORGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, 211 Park Ave. SW Aiken with Pastor Phillip Lee officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 10am until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Aiken Lodge 156 AFM Building Fund, PO Box 658, Aiken, SC 29802. Mr. Thornton, 84, of Aiken, died Friday, June 10, 2011 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Born in Pelzer, SC, he was a son of the late Ford McRee Thornton, Sr. and Lilly Bell Howard Thornton. Before moving to Aiken in 1964, he had lived in Ware Shoals. He was a Navy Veteran of WW II. Before retiring in 1988, he was a maintenance supervisor at Owens Corning, where he had worked for twenty five years. He was a great Daddy and husband and loved his family more than anything. He enjoyed gardening, helping people and could fix just about anything that was broken. Ford was a Past Master of Aiken Lodge #156 AFM, Past Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of SC. He was a member of the York Rite, serving as High Priest of Aiken Chapter #41, Thrice Illustrious Master of Aiken Council #23, Commander of Aiken Commandery #14, Grand Commander of the Grand York Rite of SC and a Knight Commander of the Temple. Received the OPC and the degree of Super Excellent Master, Anointed High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master and Knight Crusader of the Cross. He was a past Honorable Master of Aiken Lodge of Perfection and was coronated a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary. He was a Past Excellent Chief of Council #20 Knight Masons and a Past Sovereign Red Cross of Constatine All Saints Conclave. He was also a Past Governor of Palmetto York Rite College #70. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother and a sister. He is survived by his wife of sixty three years, Betty "Suzie" Powell Thornton, Aiken; three daughters, Gail Garry Smith, Dawsonville, GA, Sue Wayne Boatright, Aiken, and Kay Charles Stanley, Aiken; sister, Raynell Brown, brothers, Howard "Pee-Wee" Thornton and Billy "Red" Glen Thornton. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jason Robinson, Amy Boatright, Charlie Stanley, Cecilia George and Melissa Deets and ten great grandchildren.