Connie Rae Thornton
January 8, 1935 - March 14, 2017
Connie Rae Corra was born in St. Helens, Oregon to Arthur and Johanna (Dawson) Corra. Connie was a sister to Jack, Karen, and Phil. At the age of four, Connie began her education at Columbia City School in a one-room schoolhouse. From a very young age Connie showed a very strong aptitude for music and art. Her mother taught her to play piano and by the age of 14, Connie served as the head pianist at St. Helens Methodist Church. Her family fondly recalls Connie's masterful pipe organ playing as well. Connie attended and graduated from St. Helens High School and then continued her education at Pacific University. At Pacific University, she pursued music and art, was a sorority sister and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Connie went on to a career in education as a second grade teacher.
Connie married Ben Davis in 1958 and they were blessed with two children Colleen and Jeff. Connie and Ben later separated. In 1968 Connie met Ray Thornton, a Naval Commander and father of David, one of her students. Connie and Ray were married in 1970. Ray had two other children, Paul and Emily, and the family of seven resided in the Garden Home area of SW Portland. Connie was a wonderful mother, nurturer, and teacher to her five children. Connie made sure that each child was involved in some form of artistic discipline such as tap, jazz, piano, or guitar. She involved her children in her processes and some even helped with grading math papers at the elementary school. They were members of St. John the Baptist Church.
Connie will be remembered as a beautiful, successful, gifted, and well-liked lady. It has been said Connie was a true artist. She was a keen observer of the beauty and design found in nature. Connie produced several stunning paintings over the course of her lifetime and was strongly influenced by Claude Monet. It has also been said that Connie was a passionate person and that much of her art and music were done "by feel" and were expressions of her deeply felt emotions. In addition to art and music, Connie enjoyed traveling – she and Ray visited England, Paris, Italy, and Hawaii together. Ray passed away in 2002 and shortly thereafter, Connie moved south to live near her daughter, Colleen, in Eugene, OR.
Connie is predeceased by her loving husband Ray; parents Arthur and Johanna; and daughter Emily Kenagy.
She is survived by her sons Jeff (Debbie), David (Laura), Paul (Mary) Thornton; daughter Colleen Davis; sister Karen Nelson (Mark), brothers; Jack (Barbara) and Phil (Carolyn) Corra as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
A celebration of Connie's life and reception will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 12 p.m. Connie will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the garden of the Apostles.
Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611
*Connie's Life Story and Photographs Courtesy of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
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January 8, 1935 - March 14, 2017
Connie Rae Corra was born in St. Helens, Oregon to Arthur and Johanna (Dawson) Corra. Connie was a sister to Jack, Karen, and Phil. At the age of four, Connie began her education at Columbia City School in a one-room schoolhouse. From a very young age Connie showed a very strong aptitude for music and art. Her mother taught her to play piano and by the age of 14, Connie served as the head pianist at St. Helens Methodist Church. Her family fondly recalls Connie's masterful pipe organ playing as well. Connie attended and graduated from St. Helens High School and then continued her education at Pacific University. At Pacific University, she pursued music and art, was a sorority sister and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Connie went on to a career in education as a second grade teacher.
Connie married Ben Davis in 1958 and they were blessed with two children Colleen and Jeff. Connie and Ben later separated. In 1968 Connie met Ray Thornton, a Naval Commander and father of David, one of her students. Connie and Ray were married in 1970. Ray had two other children, Paul and Emily, and the family of seven resided in the Garden Home area of SW Portland. Connie was a wonderful mother, nurturer, and teacher to her five children. Connie made sure that each child was involved in some form of artistic discipline such as tap, jazz, piano, or guitar. She involved her children in her processes and some even helped with grading math papers at the elementary school. They were members of St. John the Baptist Church.
Connie will be remembered as a beautiful, successful, gifted, and well-liked lady. It has been said Connie was a true artist. She was a keen observer of the beauty and design found in nature. Connie produced several stunning paintings over the course of her lifetime and was strongly influenced by Claude Monet. It has also been said that Connie was a passionate person and that much of her art and music were done "by feel" and were expressions of her deeply felt emotions. In addition to art and music, Connie enjoyed traveling – she and Ray visited England, Paris, Italy, and Hawaii together. Ray passed away in 2002 and shortly thereafter, Connie moved south to live near her daughter, Colleen, in Eugene, OR.
Connie is predeceased by her loving husband Ray; parents Arthur and Johanna; and daughter Emily Kenagy.
She is survived by her sons Jeff (Debbie), David (Laura), Paul (Mary) Thornton; daughter Colleen Davis; sister Karen Nelson (Mark), brothers; Jack (Barbara) and Phil (Carolyn) Corra as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
A celebration of Connie's life and reception will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 12 p.m. Connie will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the garden of the Apostles.
Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611
*Connie's Life Story and Photographs Courtesy of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
_________________________________________________________
Connie Rae Thornton
January 8, 1935 - March 14, 2017
Connie Rae Corra was born in St. Helens, Oregon to Arthur and Johanna (Dawson) Corra. Connie was a sister to Jack, Karen, and Phil. At the age of four, Connie began her education at Columbia City School in a one-room schoolhouse. From a very young age Connie showed a very strong aptitude for music and art. Her mother taught her to play piano and by the age of 14, Connie served as the head pianist at St. Helens Methodist Church. Her family fondly recalls Connie's masterful pipe organ playing as well. Connie attended and graduated from St. Helens High School and then continued her education at Pacific University. At Pacific University, she pursued music and art, was a sorority sister and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Connie went on to a career in education as a second grade teacher.
Connie married Ben Davis in 1958 and they were blessed with two children Colleen and Jeff. Connie and Ben later separated. In 1968 Connie met Ray Thornton, a Naval Commander and father of David, one of her students. Connie and Ray were married in 1970. Ray had two other children, Paul and Emily, and the family of seven resided in the Garden Home area of SW Portland. Connie was a wonderful mother, nurturer, and teacher to her five children. Connie made sure that each child was involved in some form of artistic discipline such as tap, jazz, piano, or guitar. She involved her children in her processes and some even helped with grading math papers at the elementary school. They were members of St. John the Baptist Church.
Connie will be remembered as a beautiful, successful, gifted, and well-liked lady. It has been said Connie was a true artist. She was a keen observer of the beauty and design found in nature. Connie produced several stunning paintings over the course of her lifetime and was strongly influenced by Claude Monet. It has also been said that Connie was a passionate person and that much of her art and music were done "by feel" and were expressions of her deeply felt emotions. In addition to art and music, Connie enjoyed traveling – she and Ray visited England, Paris, Italy, and Hawaii together. Ray passed away in 2002 and shortly thereafter, Connie moved south to live near her daughter, Colleen, in Eugene, OR.
Connie is predeceased by her loving husband Ray; parents Arthur and Johanna; and daughter Emily Kenagy.
She is survived by her sons Jeff (Debbie), David (Laura), Paul (Mary) Thornton; daughter Colleen Davis; sister Karen Nelson (Mark), brothers; Jack (Barbara) and Phil (Carolyn) Corra as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
A celebration of Connie's life and reception will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 12 p.m. Connie will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the garden of the Apostles.
Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611
*Connie's Life Story and Photographs Courtesy of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
_________________________________________________________
January 8, 1935 - March 14, 2017
Connie Rae Corra was born in St. Helens, Oregon to Arthur and Johanna (Dawson) Corra. Connie was a sister to Jack, Karen, and Phil. At the age of four, Connie began her education at Columbia City School in a one-room schoolhouse. From a very young age Connie showed a very strong aptitude for music and art. Her mother taught her to play piano and by the age of 14, Connie served as the head pianist at St. Helens Methodist Church. Her family fondly recalls Connie's masterful pipe organ playing as well. Connie attended and graduated from St. Helens High School and then continued her education at Pacific University. At Pacific University, she pursued music and art, was a sorority sister and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Connie went on to a career in education as a second grade teacher.
Connie married Ben Davis in 1958 and they were blessed with two children Colleen and Jeff. Connie and Ben later separated. In 1968 Connie met Ray Thornton, a Naval Commander and father of David, one of her students. Connie and Ray were married in 1970. Ray had two other children, Paul and Emily, and the family of seven resided in the Garden Home area of SW Portland. Connie was a wonderful mother, nurturer, and teacher to her five children. Connie made sure that each child was involved in some form of artistic discipline such as tap, jazz, piano, or guitar. She involved her children in her processes and some even helped with grading math papers at the elementary school. They were members of St. John the Baptist Church.
Connie will be remembered as a beautiful, successful, gifted, and well-liked lady. It has been said Connie was a true artist. She was a keen observer of the beauty and design found in nature. Connie produced several stunning paintings over the course of her lifetime and was strongly influenced by Claude Monet. It has also been said that Connie was a passionate person and that much of her art and music were done "by feel" and were expressions of her deeply felt emotions. In addition to art and music, Connie enjoyed traveling – she and Ray visited England, Paris, Italy, and Hawaii together. Ray passed away in 2002 and shortly thereafter, Connie moved south to live near her daughter, Colleen, in Eugene, OR.
Connie is predeceased by her loving husband Ray; parents Arthur and Johanna; and daughter Emily Kenagy.
She is survived by her sons Jeff (Debbie), David (Laura), Paul (Mary) Thornton; daughter Colleen Davis; sister Karen Nelson (Mark), brothers; Jack (Barbara) and Phil (Carolyn) Corra as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
A celebration of Connie's life and reception will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 4101 NW Skyline Blvd., Portland, OR, on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at 12 p.m. Connie will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens in the garden of the Apostles.
Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message.
Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR. (503) 292-6611
*Connie's Life Story and Photographs Courtesy of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
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