Dr. Thomas "Jete" Vann Thorne was born March 31, 1917 to William T. and Jincy Fields Thorne in Tahlequah, Okla. Indian Territory. He passed this life on Sept. 24, 2007 at the age of 90.
Dr. Tom was a long-time area dentist and avid runner with many achievements along the way.
Dr. Tom graduated high school in Tahlequah in 1932. He then attended Northeastern College, now Northeastern State University, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1935. He had memberships in the following NSU organizations: Kappa Mu Epsilon-math president, O Na Le-Indian Club president, Glee Club and Sig Tau Gamma Fraternity President. Following graduation, he taught and coached in Wann, Okla., 1935-1937, then moved to Welch, Okla., where he was a teacher, principal and coach, 1937-38. Although he was accepted to medical school at the University of Oklahoma, he chose rather to attend the Kansas City-Western Dental College, (UMKC) and was on the student council, president of the Glee Club, basketball team and president of Zi Psi Phi Fraternity.
While in dental school, he met the former Mary Margaret Johnson, who was in dental assistant school and, following graduation, they married in 1942.
As World War II ensued, Dr. Thorne was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in he American Theater. His dental duties also included the Ft. Carlisle Medical Officers School, where the trained combat medical field officers. He was also assigned to Camp Crowder Missouri, Mary Margaret's hometown. When the war was over, Dr. and Mrs. Thorne returned to Neosho, where they lived for more than 60 years. Dr. Thorne began his practice with his father-in-law, Dr. Roy R. Johnson, and following several years of practice, Dr. Thorne bought the practice of Dr. L.A. Kelley and continued practice for 60 years until his retirement. He was a member of the SW Dental Society, having served as president of the Missouri Dental Association and American Dental Association.
Doc Thorne has been a lifetime community leader and volunteer, having been a long-time member of Rotary, having served as president and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, as well as a participant in group study exchange. He was a life member of the American Legion and attached to Neosho Clyde R. Burdick, Post 163, where he was a past post commander, and with the 40 and 8. Tom Sr. was a longtime member of the First Methodist Episcopal - First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was member of the board of trustees and youth sponsor.
He coached many sports, including American Legion baseball. He continued to serve in civic organizations throughout his residence in Neosho, serving the Newton County Agriculture and Mechanical Society as secretary-treasurer, Ozark Saddle Club, 1000 man club, Crowder Booster Club past president, American Field Service (AFS), Kentucky Colonel and Parks and Recreation Board, serving on the board when the new recreation center was built. He was on staff with several hospitals, including Sale Memorial Hospital, now Freeman-Neosho Hospital, Cardwell Memorial Hospital, Stella, McCune Brooks Hospital, Webb City, former Oak Hill Hospital in Joplin and the Neosho Senior Center.
His later accomplishments were on the track. Dr. Tom Thorne, Sr., started running at the age of 64, and holds many records and hundreds of medals. He is a several time National Decathlon and Heptathlon champion and won several medals in the Decathlon Challenge with Great Britain. He holds the national record for the Indoor Heptathlon at the age of 85. He won a gold medal as National Decathlon champion against England in 2004 and during his lifetime, Tom Sr. had the privilege to participate in a decathlon with all of his boys.
Dr. Thorne was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was known as ‘Jete'. He served on the Cherokee National Tribal Council, was a community representative on the Constitution and Registration Committee as well as on the election commission. He was also a member of the Cherokee Gourd Dancers.
After Mary Margaret's death in 2001, Dr. Thorne continued to live in Neosho. Along the way, he became reacquainted with an old friend, Birdie Yeubanks-Toon of Muskogee, Okla., and they were married in Dec. of 2004. She preceded him in death in 2005.
In addition, he was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Timothy, Jerry (Bear) and Jim and his brother and sister-in-law, William R. and Madge Thorne.
Surviving Dr. Thorne are his sons, Rev. Thomas F. Thorne and wife, Patty, Neosho, Terry Joe Thorne and wife, Dana, Pawhuska, Okla., Dr. John Thorne and wife, Heather, Tulsa, Okla., Joe Bessenbacher and wife, Gloria, Kansas City, Mo., and step daughter, Becky Hale and husband, Bud, Beggs, Okla.; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one aunt, Bonnie Christy, Little Rock, Ark., and a cousin, Gahlileah Newman, Bartlesville, Okla.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Congregational Church in Neosho. Rev. Tom Thorne will officiate. Burial will be in the Neosho IOOF Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Contributions in memory of Dr. Thorne may be made to the Native American Children's Christmas Fund or the charity of the donors' choice, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, 64850.
Arrangements are under direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Missouri.
Dr. Tom was a long-time area dentist and avid runner with many achievements along the way.
Dr. Tom graduated high school in Tahlequah in 1932. He then attended Northeastern College, now Northeastern State University, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1935. He had memberships in the following NSU organizations: Kappa Mu Epsilon-math president, O Na Le-Indian Club president, Glee Club and Sig Tau Gamma Fraternity President. Following graduation, he taught and coached in Wann, Okla., 1935-1937, then moved to Welch, Okla., where he was a teacher, principal and coach, 1937-38. Although he was accepted to medical school at the University of Oklahoma, he chose rather to attend the Kansas City-Western Dental College, (UMKC) and was on the student council, president of the Glee Club, basketball team and president of Zi Psi Phi Fraternity.
While in dental school, he met the former Mary Margaret Johnson, who was in dental assistant school and, following graduation, they married in 1942.
As World War II ensued, Dr. Thorne was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in he American Theater. His dental duties also included the Ft. Carlisle Medical Officers School, where the trained combat medical field officers. He was also assigned to Camp Crowder Missouri, Mary Margaret's hometown. When the war was over, Dr. and Mrs. Thorne returned to Neosho, where they lived for more than 60 years. Dr. Thorne began his practice with his father-in-law, Dr. Roy R. Johnson, and following several years of practice, Dr. Thorne bought the practice of Dr. L.A. Kelley and continued practice for 60 years until his retirement. He was a member of the SW Dental Society, having served as president of the Missouri Dental Association and American Dental Association.
Doc Thorne has been a lifetime community leader and volunteer, having been a long-time member of Rotary, having served as president and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, as well as a participant in group study exchange. He was a life member of the American Legion and attached to Neosho Clyde R. Burdick, Post 163, where he was a past post commander, and with the 40 and 8. Tom Sr. was a longtime member of the First Methodist Episcopal - First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was member of the board of trustees and youth sponsor.
He coached many sports, including American Legion baseball. He continued to serve in civic organizations throughout his residence in Neosho, serving the Newton County Agriculture and Mechanical Society as secretary-treasurer, Ozark Saddle Club, 1000 man club, Crowder Booster Club past president, American Field Service (AFS), Kentucky Colonel and Parks and Recreation Board, serving on the board when the new recreation center was built. He was on staff with several hospitals, including Sale Memorial Hospital, now Freeman-Neosho Hospital, Cardwell Memorial Hospital, Stella, McCune Brooks Hospital, Webb City, former Oak Hill Hospital in Joplin and the Neosho Senior Center.
His later accomplishments were on the track. Dr. Tom Thorne, Sr., started running at the age of 64, and holds many records and hundreds of medals. He is a several time National Decathlon and Heptathlon champion and won several medals in the Decathlon Challenge with Great Britain. He holds the national record for the Indoor Heptathlon at the age of 85. He won a gold medal as National Decathlon champion against England in 2004 and during his lifetime, Tom Sr. had the privilege to participate in a decathlon with all of his boys.
Dr. Thorne was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was known as ‘Jete'. He served on the Cherokee National Tribal Council, was a community representative on the Constitution and Registration Committee as well as on the election commission. He was also a member of the Cherokee Gourd Dancers.
After Mary Margaret's death in 2001, Dr. Thorne continued to live in Neosho. Along the way, he became reacquainted with an old friend, Birdie Yeubanks-Toon of Muskogee, Okla., and they were married in Dec. of 2004. She preceded him in death in 2005.
In addition, he was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Timothy, Jerry (Bear) and Jim and his brother and sister-in-law, William R. and Madge Thorne.
Surviving Dr. Thorne are his sons, Rev. Thomas F. Thorne and wife, Patty, Neosho, Terry Joe Thorne and wife, Dana, Pawhuska, Okla., Dr. John Thorne and wife, Heather, Tulsa, Okla., Joe Bessenbacher and wife, Gloria, Kansas City, Mo., and step daughter, Becky Hale and husband, Bud, Beggs, Okla.; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one aunt, Bonnie Christy, Little Rock, Ark., and a cousin, Gahlileah Newman, Bartlesville, Okla.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Congregational Church in Neosho. Rev. Tom Thorne will officiate. Burial will be in the Neosho IOOF Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Contributions in memory of Dr. Thorne may be made to the Native American Children's Christmas Fund or the charity of the donors' choice, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, 64850.
Arrangements are under direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Missouri.
Dr. Thomas "Jete" Vann Thorne was born March 31, 1917 to William T. and Jincy Fields Thorne in Tahlequah, Okla. Indian Territory. He passed this life on Sept. 24, 2007 at the age of 90.
Dr. Tom was a long-time area dentist and avid runner with many achievements along the way.
Dr. Tom graduated high school in Tahlequah in 1932. He then attended Northeastern College, now Northeastern State University, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1935. He had memberships in the following NSU organizations: Kappa Mu Epsilon-math president, O Na Le-Indian Club president, Glee Club and Sig Tau Gamma Fraternity President. Following graduation, he taught and coached in Wann, Okla., 1935-1937, then moved to Welch, Okla., where he was a teacher, principal and coach, 1937-38. Although he was accepted to medical school at the University of Oklahoma, he chose rather to attend the Kansas City-Western Dental College, (UMKC) and was on the student council, president of the Glee Club, basketball team and president of Zi Psi Phi Fraternity.
While in dental school, he met the former Mary Margaret Johnson, who was in dental assistant school and, following graduation, they married in 1942.
As World War II ensued, Dr. Thorne was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in he American Theater. His dental duties also included the Ft. Carlisle Medical Officers School, where the trained combat medical field officers. He was also assigned to Camp Crowder Missouri, Mary Margaret's hometown. When the war was over, Dr. and Mrs. Thorne returned to Neosho, where they lived for more than 60 years. Dr. Thorne began his practice with his father-in-law, Dr. Roy R. Johnson, and following several years of practice, Dr. Thorne bought the practice of Dr. L.A. Kelley and continued practice for 60 years until his retirement. He was a member of the SW Dental Society, having served as president of the Missouri Dental Association and American Dental Association.
Doc Thorne has been a lifetime community leader and volunteer, having been a long-time member of Rotary, having served as president and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, as well as a participant in group study exchange. He was a life member of the American Legion and attached to Neosho Clyde R. Burdick, Post 163, where he was a past post commander, and with the 40 and 8. Tom Sr. was a longtime member of the First Methodist Episcopal - First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was member of the board of trustees and youth sponsor.
He coached many sports, including American Legion baseball. He continued to serve in civic organizations throughout his residence in Neosho, serving the Newton County Agriculture and Mechanical Society as secretary-treasurer, Ozark Saddle Club, 1000 man club, Crowder Booster Club past president, American Field Service (AFS), Kentucky Colonel and Parks and Recreation Board, serving on the board when the new recreation center was built. He was on staff with several hospitals, including Sale Memorial Hospital, now Freeman-Neosho Hospital, Cardwell Memorial Hospital, Stella, McCune Brooks Hospital, Webb City, former Oak Hill Hospital in Joplin and the Neosho Senior Center.
His later accomplishments were on the track. Dr. Tom Thorne, Sr., started running at the age of 64, and holds many records and hundreds of medals. He is a several time National Decathlon and Heptathlon champion and won several medals in the Decathlon Challenge with Great Britain. He holds the national record for the Indoor Heptathlon at the age of 85. He won a gold medal as National Decathlon champion against England in 2004 and during his lifetime, Tom Sr. had the privilege to participate in a decathlon with all of his boys.
Dr. Thorne was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was known as ‘Jete'. He served on the Cherokee National Tribal Council, was a community representative on the Constitution and Registration Committee as well as on the election commission. He was also a member of the Cherokee Gourd Dancers.
After Mary Margaret's death in 2001, Dr. Thorne continued to live in Neosho. Along the way, he became reacquainted with an old friend, Birdie Yeubanks-Toon of Muskogee, Okla., and they were married in Dec. of 2004. She preceded him in death in 2005.
In addition, he was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Timothy, Jerry (Bear) and Jim and his brother and sister-in-law, William R. and Madge Thorne.
Surviving Dr. Thorne are his sons, Rev. Thomas F. Thorne and wife, Patty, Neosho, Terry Joe Thorne and wife, Dana, Pawhuska, Okla., Dr. John Thorne and wife, Heather, Tulsa, Okla., Joe Bessenbacher and wife, Gloria, Kansas City, Mo., and step daughter, Becky Hale and husband, Bud, Beggs, Okla.; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one aunt, Bonnie Christy, Little Rock, Ark., and a cousin, Gahlileah Newman, Bartlesville, Okla.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Congregational Church in Neosho. Rev. Tom Thorne will officiate. Burial will be in the Neosho IOOF Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Contributions in memory of Dr. Thorne may be made to the Native American Children's Christmas Fund or the charity of the donors' choice, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, 64850.
Arrangements are under direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Missouri.
Dr. Tom was a long-time area dentist and avid runner with many achievements along the way.
Dr. Tom graduated high school in Tahlequah in 1932. He then attended Northeastern College, now Northeastern State University, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1935. He had memberships in the following NSU organizations: Kappa Mu Epsilon-math president, O Na Le-Indian Club president, Glee Club and Sig Tau Gamma Fraternity President. Following graduation, he taught and coached in Wann, Okla., 1935-1937, then moved to Welch, Okla., where he was a teacher, principal and coach, 1937-38. Although he was accepted to medical school at the University of Oklahoma, he chose rather to attend the Kansas City-Western Dental College, (UMKC) and was on the student council, president of the Glee Club, basketball team and president of Zi Psi Phi Fraternity.
While in dental school, he met the former Mary Margaret Johnson, who was in dental assistant school and, following graduation, they married in 1942.
As World War II ensued, Dr. Thorne was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in he American Theater. His dental duties also included the Ft. Carlisle Medical Officers School, where the trained combat medical field officers. He was also assigned to Camp Crowder Missouri, Mary Margaret's hometown. When the war was over, Dr. and Mrs. Thorne returned to Neosho, where they lived for more than 60 years. Dr. Thorne began his practice with his father-in-law, Dr. Roy R. Johnson, and following several years of practice, Dr. Thorne bought the practice of Dr. L.A. Kelley and continued practice for 60 years until his retirement. He was a member of the SW Dental Society, having served as president of the Missouri Dental Association and American Dental Association.
Doc Thorne has been a lifetime community leader and volunteer, having been a long-time member of Rotary, having served as president and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, as well as a participant in group study exchange. He was a life member of the American Legion and attached to Neosho Clyde R. Burdick, Post 163, where he was a past post commander, and with the 40 and 8. Tom Sr. was a longtime member of the First Methodist Episcopal - First United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was member of the board of trustees and youth sponsor.
He coached many sports, including American Legion baseball. He continued to serve in civic organizations throughout his residence in Neosho, serving the Newton County Agriculture and Mechanical Society as secretary-treasurer, Ozark Saddle Club, 1000 man club, Crowder Booster Club past president, American Field Service (AFS), Kentucky Colonel and Parks and Recreation Board, serving on the board when the new recreation center was built. He was on staff with several hospitals, including Sale Memorial Hospital, now Freeman-Neosho Hospital, Cardwell Memorial Hospital, Stella, McCune Brooks Hospital, Webb City, former Oak Hill Hospital in Joplin and the Neosho Senior Center.
His later accomplishments were on the track. Dr. Tom Thorne, Sr., started running at the age of 64, and holds many records and hundreds of medals. He is a several time National Decathlon and Heptathlon champion and won several medals in the Decathlon Challenge with Great Britain. He holds the national record for the Indoor Heptathlon at the age of 85. He won a gold medal as National Decathlon champion against England in 2004 and during his lifetime, Tom Sr. had the privilege to participate in a decathlon with all of his boys.
Dr. Thorne was proud of his Cherokee heritage and was known as ‘Jete'. He served on the Cherokee National Tribal Council, was a community representative on the Constitution and Registration Committee as well as on the election commission. He was also a member of the Cherokee Gourd Dancers.
After Mary Margaret's death in 2001, Dr. Thorne continued to live in Neosho. Along the way, he became reacquainted with an old friend, Birdie Yeubanks-Toon of Muskogee, Okla., and they were married in Dec. of 2004. She preceded him in death in 2005.
In addition, he was preceded in death by his parents, sons, Timothy, Jerry (Bear) and Jim and his brother and sister-in-law, William R. and Madge Thorne.
Surviving Dr. Thorne are his sons, Rev. Thomas F. Thorne and wife, Patty, Neosho, Terry Joe Thorne and wife, Dana, Pawhuska, Okla., Dr. John Thorne and wife, Heather, Tulsa, Okla., Joe Bessenbacher and wife, Gloria, Kansas City, Mo., and step daughter, Becky Hale and husband, Bud, Beggs, Okla.; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one aunt, Bonnie Christy, Little Rock, Ark., and a cousin, Gahlileah Newman, Bartlesville, Okla.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Congregational Church in Neosho. Rev. Tom Thorne will officiate. Burial will be in the Neosho IOOF Cemetery with military honors. Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home, Neosho from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The family will receive friends from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Contributions in memory of Dr. Thorne may be made to the Native American Children's Christmas Fund or the charity of the donors' choice, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, 64850.
Arrangements are under direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Missouri.
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