Rebecca Thorne

PAXTON - Rebecca Lynne "Becky" Thorne, 74, of Paxton passed away at 9:24 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 29, 2025) at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.

Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E. Pells St., Paxton. Private family burial will be held at a later date at Glen Cemetery, Paxton.

Becky was born Feb. 26, 1951, in Decatur, the daughter of Wayne and Liz Troxell Smith.  She married Jim Peden in 1972. She married Buzz Thorne on Dec. 4, 1981, in Watseka.  He survives.

Along with her husband, Buzz, she is survived by their children, Jake (Laura) Peden of Rantoul, Mandy (Luke) Young of Paxton, Tim (Cathy) Thorne of Onarga and Jennifer Thorne of Champaign; grandchildren, Tyler Peden of Pesotum, Madi (Drew) Normile of Paxton, Brady and Lily Young of Paxton, Clayton Thorne of Buckley, Dane Thorne of Onarga, Maggie Thorne of Onarga, Blake Thorne of Farmington, Mo., and Trace Thorne of Broadlands; three great-grandchildren, Peyton Normile and Aiden and Brantley Thorne; brother, Mike (Joan) Smith of Morton, Nancy Merkle of Lovington; aunt, Irene Fleming of Lovington; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father-in-law, Gleason and Margaret Thorne; brother-in-law, Harold Merkle; sister-in-law, Chris Ornelas; and her beloved dog, Mickey.

Becky graduated from Paxton High School in 1969 and from the Champaign School of Nursing in 1971 as an LPN. She was a nurse at the Paxton Hospital, Paxton Clinic and Carle Foundation Hospital. She retired from nursing to care for her grandchildren.

She enjoyed riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycle with her husband, spending time on the beach, and eating seafood, especially oysters on the half shell. Becky loved socializing, was the life of the party, and never met a stranger. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

Memorials may be made to Ruby's Rescue and Retreat, 4035 CR 600 North, McLean, IL 61754. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at baierfuneralservices.com.