THORNBURG, Eileen-Jo (nee Doty)
Paw Paw
On April 15th, Eileen-Jo (Doty) Thornburg was rushed to Bronson Hospital with a heart attack. Sadly she passed away Saturday, April 17, 2010. Eileen-Jo was born on January 13, 1954 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Jordan and Harriet (Masten) Doty.
Eileen-Jo was very active in the Paw Paw community volunteering and caring for many people. With the Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce, she was honored with Volunteer of the Year Award. She also volunteered for the Paw Paw Little League, Paw Paw Wine & Harvest Festival, Paw Paw Days and Car Show and the Van Buren County Domestic Violence Coalition. She made wonderful pies and desserts, notably for the Lawton American Legion, and her altruistic spirit was evident in her compassion for the ill and needy, driving cancer patients to appointments, caring for children and providing meals for the less fortunate. She was employed as a Veterinarian Assistant in South Carolina and for Dr. Bakers Office in Paw Paw. Most recently she was employed for Elgin Electric in Lawton and for Homebodies, an in-home caregiving service.
Surviving are a son, Joseph (Emily) Thornburg of Vicksburg; daughter, Elizabeth Thornburg of Ann Arbor; 4 grandchildren, Marisa, Joseph, Audrey, Jordan; mother, Harriet E. Doty of Paw Paw; 2 sisters, Dawn (Terry) Morrison of Gobles and Annette (Tom) Crooks of Kendall; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Jordan M. Doty on November 22, 1997.
Cremation has taken place. Family will receive friends Saturday, May 15 from 10-11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Paw Paw, with a memorial service at 11 a.m., Rev. John Hill officiating. A dinner will held immediately following the service at the church fellowship hall. Memorials may be directed to the family or to Wings of Mercy, Kalamazoo.
