Wanda Nell Thornton

Wanda Nell Thornton, 88, passed away on January 27, 2026, at her home in Mexia, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation with the family will be from 1-2:30 p.m., Friday, January 30, 2026, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Old Bethel Cemetery.

Wanda was born in Kickapoo, Texas to Cleburn and Madell (Williams) Prichard on October 5, 1937. Wanda married Joe Davis Thornton in 1961, and they had three children Kelly, Deborah and Donna. She married a rancher and loved working the cattle alongside him every day. 

Wanda was a member of the Northcrest Church of Christ in Mexia, Texas for over 20 years.

She worked fifty years in banking as a teller for First National Bank and ending with Incommons Bank. Her famous catch phrase was “pay your debt” she would tell her family and friends, which was sound advice.

She loved to prepare holiday meals for the family at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the summer months when the grandchildren would come for the weeklong visits, she would cook all the meals for them, never buying them meals from town except for an occasional trip to Jim’s Fried Chicken. Their favorite meal that she prepared was breakfast, especially the pancakes.

Wanda was the “go to person” for the Old Bethel Cemetery Association. She took a lot of pride and spent many hours working for the cemetery.

Rosie, her beloved Chihuahua, stayed in her lap and with her constantly even to the very end. 

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Joe Davis Thornton; sister Fayrene (Prichard) Gilliam, brothers Chesley Dean Prichard and James Bernice Prichard, son in-law Robert Steely and granddaughter Bethany Chrstine Dunn. 

She is survived by her children, James Kelly Thornton (Dana), Deborah Diane Thornton and Donna Jo Steely; grandchildren Jeremy Glenn Logan (Melissa), Justin Gene Logan (Katie), Jodi Rene DeCamp (Ryan); Jessi Lakay Thornton, Rebekah Brooke Riggleman, Emily Morgan Riggleman, Robert Slater Steely (Victoria) and Jonathon Elias Dunn; multiple great grand children and one great, great grand son as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

 The family request that memorial contributions be made to The Old Bethel Cemetery, 3931 FM 39 North, Mexia, Texas 76667.