Kirby L. Thornton, 77, of Gladstone, formerly of Marshall, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at North Kansas City Hospital in Kansas City.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 5, 2006, at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 N. Antioch, Gladstone. Cremation will follow. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Foxworth Animal Rescue, 4704 NE Vivion, Kansas City, MO, 64119, Attention: Dawn. A guest book is available online at dwnewcomers.com.

He was born Nov. 11, 1929, in Shackleford, to Luther and Kitty Thornton. He was a retired truck driver and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He was a member of VFW Post 5606 in Claycomo.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Thornton; children, Ricky Thornton, Sandy Thornton, Tammy Gibson, Chuck Thornton and Randy Smiley; four grandchildren; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Thelama Babcock.