Lon Thornton Jr.

Lon Thornton, Jr.

Died: July 16, 2025

Lon Thornton, Jr., age 81, of Sevierville, Tennessee, died peacefully on July 16, 2025, at his home after a bout with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 24, 1944, in Knoxville and raised in Newport, the oldest child of Lon H. Thornton, Sr., and Gertrude Jones Thornton. Lon attended Carson-Newman College and East Tennessee State University. He was a longtime public school employee. He began his career with the Cocke County School District as an elementary school teacher, and in 1991, he joined the Sevier County School District, where he remained until retirement. In his last several years, he worked in school transportation. His true passion was farming. Lon had a lifelong love of agriculture, beginning at a young age when he worked with his father on their farms in Sevier and Jefferson Counties, raising beef cattle. He enjoyed showing cattle at county fairs. He served on the Sevier County Fair Board for many years, the last 15 as president. He enjoyed riding horses on mountain trail rides and often camped on these rides with family and friends. Lon was a well-known basketball referee. He began officiating when he was 18 years old and continued until he was 80. Throughout his life, he officiated for the Smoky Mountain Basketball Officials Association, Tri-Cities Basketball Officials Association, NCAA, and NAIA. He officiated in several states and at tournaments in the Bahamas. His love for being on the basketball floor never left him. In his later years, you could find him refereeing travel ball and recreational games. Along with officiating basketball, he spent most of his life umpiring baseball and softball. Lon was also an avid fan of the University of Tennessee football team, holding season tickets for 60 years. Lon was an active member of Newport First Baptist Church. He served as an usher, drove the church van, and was on the security team. He was a part of the Andrews Men's Class, a close-knit group of men. He was preceded in death by his son, Lon Thornton III; his parents, Lon Thornton, Sr., and Gertrude Thornton; his brother, Alger Jones Thornton; and his father-in-law, John Sartin. He leaves behind, to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Sartin Thornton; daughters, Tonya Moyers (Tony), Heather Sartain (Mark), and Kortney Stinnett (Robbie); son, John Thornton (Cindi); grandchildren, Greg Moyers (Abigail), Krista Moyers, LeAyn Moyers, Camryn Thornton, Will Sartain (Madyson), Brayden Stinnett, and Lon H. Thornton IV; step-grandchildren, Tyler and Brett Stinnett and Savannah Compton; five great-grandchildren; and his mother-in-law, Doris Sartin. He is also survived by his dear in-laws, Greg and Barbara Wells, Dr. Alan and Martha Thompson, sister-in-law Margaret Thornton, and several close cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 10, at First Baptist Church of Newport from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by his Celebration of Life at 5:00 p.m., with Dr. Rich Lloyd officiating. The family will hold a private interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 599 Amanda Circle, Newport, TN 37821. Family and friends may sign the guest register on line at: www.manesfuneralhome.com Arrangements have been made with Manes Funeral Home, Newport,TN.