Ella Mae Laxson Thornley made her final journey to be with the Lord on August 6, 2018. Ella was born on September 21, 1947 to G.W. (Bill) and Adela Laxson in Mart, Texas. She was the youngest of five children. Her siblings are Melvin Laxson, Evelyn Thomas, Louise Breedlove, and Charles Laxson. She grew up in Coolidge, Texas, where she was a majorette at Coolidge High School. Ella became a Licensed Vocational Nurse in New Braunfels, Texas, and spent much of her life caring for others.
Ella married Guy Thornley on February 14, 1992 in Garland, Texas. For 26 years they have loved and cared for each other, their family, friends, and church family here in Waco, Texas. Ella was a member of Parkview Baptist Church. Her faith and love for the Lord has sustained her and carried her through her life.
Through God's grace, we have been so blessed to call her our Mother. She has been the love of our lives. Her grandchildren, Joshua Bryson, Fabian Valenzuela, Megan Werlinger, and Xavier Valenzuela, were so lucky to have her for a "Nana". Mom loved us and her grandchildren more than anything. She attended numerous football games and school events in support of us all. We could always hear her cheering for us from the stands. She taught us that family is the most important thing other than God. Thank you, Lord for our Mom.
Mom was a devoted Baylor Bears fan and enjoyed working at the Baylor football games, which she did until November 2017. She was a season ticket holder to the Baylor Lady Bears Basketball games. Mom loved to play golf and spend time with family and her close friends Becky Eastwood, Steve Jowers, and Susie Branch. Many a Friday night, you could find them playing cards and laughing together.
Ella is survived by her husband, Guy Thornley, her children Tiki Merchant, Misty Booth and husband Jory, and Suree Valenzuela, as well as her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, her brother, and her close friends.
We would like to thank all of those who prayed with us and for us, Dr. Karur and the Baylor Scott and White Oncology team, Parkview Baptist Church, and Providence Hospice. Our lives will never be the same, but we will cherish every single minute we had with Mom.