of Vilonia, AR
November 29, 1998 - December 22, 2013
Andrea Gayle Thorn, 15, of Vilonia, traded in her wheelchair for a pair of running shoes on Sunday, December 22, 2013. She is the the daughter of Johnathan and B.J. Thorn. Born with her twin and best friend Bailee Jo on November 29, 1998, weighing one pound and thirteen ounces.
''Sissy'' had many adventures during her time here on earth. She was a cheerleader, dancer, hunter, pageant queen, biker babe, Olympic bowler and possibly a wanted felon in Garland County for the texting incident of 2012.
She was loved by more people than she could count on her toes. She graced many entrances. Sometimes things were not always wheelchair accessible, but she over came and usually ran over lots of things. She put her feet in the sand in Florida and loved going to Branson. She was often seen in the paper, on TV, even on the side of three buses in Conway for the Faulkner County Day School, and the Vilonia school website.
Sissy went on her make a wish trip to Sea World where she touched the dolphins. She loved hunting and fishing with her daddy. Cooking and shopping with her momma. Her light filled anyone who met her. Sissy spent lots of days sitting in her recliner, drinking from her sippy cup and watching movies with her best-est friend and baby sister Lauren Grace. She loved her wiener dog Oscar. Her nanny and pawpaw helped her ride horses and be the cowgirl at heart she was.
Her Mrs. Sandy helped her at school and was her ''other momma''. There are too many people she touched to mention individually. She also was a great speller.
Andrea's legacy will live on forever. She created the Angels Pageant System. She allowed for thousands of special needs angels to have their moment to shine and be crowned for being just what they were.. perfect. We love you sissy. Thank you to each person whoever loved her. To Nick Ryan she loved you most.
Funeral services are set for 2:00p.m., Friday, December 27, 2013 at New Life Church in Conway. Interment will follow in Cypress Valley Cemetery with Will Russell officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm., Thursday at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. (501) 327-7727
Donations can be made to Memorial Fund for Andrea Gayle Thorn at Regions Bank.
With our deepest condolences. May you find comfort from this scripture. (John 5: 28 & 29).
I'm so sorry for your loss. I know she has no more pain. I'm sorry we weren't there, we got the days wrong. Charles and I wanted to be there for our life long neighbors & friends.
Our kids wanted to be there too. ANd Andrea will be terribly missed.
Sorry for ur lost ni love u
I never had the pleasure of meeting Miss Andrea and from what I have heard that is my loss. Having met Bailee Jo I know her sissy was one great gal. May God bless and give the family comfort.
Heaven has a beautiful angel with pink sparkly wings. She touched many lives near and far. Sending our blessings and love from Canada.
May your family find tender heartfelt moments in the days and weeks to come in sharing wonderful loving memories Andrea left here with everyone. Those who had the chance to meet her loved her dearly. Those who just learned of her from others felt as though they to knew her from that smile that cast off so much love and happiness. May God wrap his arms around you and hold you close. WE LOVE YOU ANDREA. FLY HIGH ANGEL.
Bj and family..I am so sorry. Prayers for you and yours!!
I'm so sorry for the family and friends. I have only heard story's. But from what I heard she sounds like a wonderful person. Thank goodness for a wonderful heaven for everyone.
Bj and family, I am so sorry. May God give you peace and understanding during this time.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...
My son Kenny and Andrea bowled together we are sorry for your loss.We all know she is in the gates of HEAVEN sending much love and prayers for your family. THE SUTHERLAND'S
Im so sorry for your loss!! Heaven gained a beautiful Angel!! Prayers for everyone!!
I didnt know Andrea personally but my daughter did and Im sorry to hear of her passing, Haley has told me alot about her through school and was sad to hear, she was sure to tell me how sweet and caring Andrea was and how she is going to miss her because she lit everyones day. May the Good Lord wrap you and your family with comfort and lean upon him in times of need with the days ahead. May God bring you peace and love in your hearts and let Andreas memory shine on!
Sometimes I would start out on a Monday mourning feeling kinda grinchy but then I would see Andrea. She would always say, "I thought about you this weekend" then my heart would grow three sizes that day. My life is so much richer because of the thoughtfulness, kindness and sweat nature she brought. I continue to be blessed because Bailee brings these same gifts into a friendship with Hannah. Our hearts and door are open to you Bailee. Lauren never fails to greet me with a big smile and excitement that makes me feel special just the way Andrea could do. I am right there in the halls at school if you need a hug Lauren. I love you all.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the thorn family. When I meet Andrea she a beautiful smile on her face and she not only inspired me but millions :) going to miss the boss lady andrea
We are going to miss u like crazy sissy I love u
My thoughts and prayers for the Thorn Family! Andrea you have left this earth leaving an impact on many peoples life!s! You will never be forgotten!
I'm gonna miss you Sissy! I love you!!! BFF forever and always!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you & the family. I am honor to have had the chance to meet Andrea at the Central Arkansas Angels Pageant. She will always hold a special place in my heart for making a different in so many children's life.
sorry for your loss. God knew her work on earth was finished & it was time for her to come home. Andria's legacy will continue, just as God had planned. Thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Jack & Judy Campbell
So sorry for your loss - God is our refuge and strength in time of need. May God grant & giive you peace and comfort during these days.
Andrea was an inspiration to everyone she knew. She will forever be in my heart.I will miss her beautiful smile.
The Thorn Family has touched many lives and I am honored to know them. Andrea was beautiful and will continue to touch lives for years to come.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I met you a long time ago when you were very small and I was on a fire dept. I have moved but watched you on TV telling about the pageants. So proud to read that you were happy. You were very loved by many people!
May God give you comfort during this difficult time.
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Everyone who ever knew her, loved her so. She will be missed by all. Prayers for your family.
I was very sad to hear of your loss. I transported her when she was a little tyke and I remember her being everyone's favorite. She touched many lives. She is now living with God and may he be with you all during this difficult time. I will pray for you all.
We are gonna miss sissy. She sure brought joy to Taihlor's heart.
Praying for the family. May yourremember every precious moment that you created together both friends and family.
Dear Family, I am deeply saddened by your devastating loss. Her life ended far too soon. We cannot begin to understand what you must be experiencing right now. I know that words could never take away your pain. May God soothe your aching hearts with his beautiful promise of a future Paradise when he promises to reunite us with our loved ones again. (John 5:28) You're in my prayers. (Revelation 21:4,5)
We love you guys John & B.J.
Uncle Jack & Aunt Ann
I remember the first time she came to Hilltop Baptist Church and her mommy let me hold her in my arms, she was so very tiny and very sweet. They let me hold her every Sunday she was at Church. John and BJ are a wonderful mom & dad and took very good care of their little angle. John's mom & dad has always been with them to help any way they could. this little angle will be missed by them all, but she is at peace and hurts no more. We love you all.
As one of the first to ever care for you as a NICU nurse at SVI, I'll always remember you as the "B" twin with the "A" name. May God's arms surround and comfort your family.
Praying for you in this difficult time; but rejoicing she is running the streets of gold👼. Heaven got a beautiful angel. Love you all. See you at the next pageant .
Love,
Jaci
I am deeply sadden for the loss of Andrea Gayle, I wish I could have been more apart of her life while she was here on earth. I do remember her always having such a beautiful smile on face every time I seen her. She is a lot like her mother with her strong will and determination. Andrea, you will always be treasure and love by me and many more and never forgotten. With all my love, your Grandfather Mark
I know you're having a great time without that wheelchair! We love you and miss you dearly already but it's fantastic to know that you no longer have to endure any surgeries hurt nor pain. You are special and has touched many lives, so I say rest now "Sissy " and enjoy the pearly gates of heaven we will see you again one day.
Andrea had such a fun loving spirit. We always laughed a lot together at school. I will miss her precious big smile. Praying for comfort and strength for all of all.
I got the pleasure of meeting your daughter at th Angels pageant this year when I came with Lacy Criswell. She seemed so happy and full of life. I pray that God gives your family healing and strength.
You were a light in our lives! Sorry you have left the Earth but so thankful you are skating with Our Lord in Heaven! We love and miss you!
We will miss her smiling face and all the laughter no matter what she was going thur at the time. Love you and miss you. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Love you always,
Great Uncle Joe & Great Aunt Joanne Carmical Sr.
Blessed to have met Andrea. What a smile, beautiful. Prayers for the family.
So sorry for your loss.... our prayers are with you
Her smile could light up a room, she will be missed by many! So sorry for your loss.
Andrea lite up the entire cafeteria with her smile each and every day. I loved that smile and also loved to make her giggle as we would go by her, cleaning up. She will be greatly missed by many and my deepest sympathies go out to all of you.
Heaven gained a special angel. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
You left a wonderful legacy. You have been a blessing and you will be missed. Big hugs.
I'm leahs sister and we are so sorry for yalls loss! We will be praying for all of yall! Every time I did see her though she was happy and smiling!
Andrea, you brought so much happiness and light into my life. It took all of 5 seconds to fall in love with that sweet face. You were one of the purest souls I've ever met, and I will miss you so very much. I love you, sissy <3
You will always be an inspiration to us, beautiful angel!
Her light shown so bright. Her personality u couldn't deny. She made the world a better place with just one. Smile on her face. We knew from the start, and angel we were all loaned. To better every person she met, that seemed to be her life's tone. Always lifting others with strength so true. Always helping others with what we couldn't seen to do. An amazing young lady earned her wings today, as family and friends watch her gracefully fly away.....we will love, miss, and remember u forever!! Maw-Maw, joey, uncle Jared, uncle Tyler and aunt Alex
I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sorry John and BJ..
I know that you all have Andrea watching you from Heaven and celebrating the birth of Christ in the best place there is. What a celebration for her to share! I know that you , along with so many others will miss her like crazy, but know that she has never left with the imprint on the thousands of hearts she has left.
Your family loves you. You will be missed by many. God bless you. May you rest in love. Praying for your family.
I would have so loved to meet you in person but I have met some of the lives you touched and hearing your story has touched a special place in my heart. I pray everyone can have the strength and beauty that you had. May god be with you as you shine down on the world.
The Lord has lifted the constraints that Andrea endured here on earth with such grace, courage and spunk that shone through with a special beauty only she possessed., and shared so willingly with all she met and knew. She now shares it with the ability to spread her wings and dance on the wind. So when you feel the breeze lift your eye up and know she has once again caressed you with her love.
Andrea loved all and was loved by all. I will miss the smile she always had, she was a happy girl. Praying for the family.
I am sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my prayers.
Andrea,
Your love of life, your smile, and wonderful personality inspire so much in me. I never got to meet you in person but all the great pictures made me feel like I had you right next to me. I see so much of you on my baby girl and I feel blessed and privileged to be part of the Angel family. Thank You for opening doors for many of our angels.
She was a wonderful bowler! I can't remember a time when she didn't make the state bowling team...Vilonia Specia Olympics has lost a very special bowler!
Andrea was an angel among us. She touched our lives and we're all better for having known her sweet smile.
Andrea you will truely be missed by many because of you vegas and many other children have gotten to experience pageants.
Thoughts and prayers for one of the most wonderful mommas ever (BJ). Peace and comfort for the Thorn family.
May God's love be with you. There is a new Angel in Heaven.
I love your family Andrea.. you and your family have made such a difference in so many lives....I have watch the post of Love from all the lives you have touched....My daughter was able to attend her very first pageant because of you and your mommy And was able to feel beauitful and like she was famous for a day...you are truly a Angel....you will truly be missed I know you have earned your wings....Fly Angel
All our love and prayers are with your family I know they miss you so!!! Sincerly Christy Cropper and Family
I've had the pleasure of knowing this sweet girl all of her life. She always had a smile. Prayers for your sweet family.
May you rest in peace sweet angle! She's a beautiful soul.
BJ,
Andera touched so many lives. She was beautiful and her smile was so big.She was just like you strong, smart, beautiful. She was an angel here and now she has her running shoes. I am sorry for your loss.
Love ya,
Tasha
Andrea...So thankful for you! You were an angel here on earth, and God needed you to help in heaven! You gave children with special needs hope and helped make dreams come true! Heaven truly has gained an angel! Sending love and prayers to your family!
Andrea...So thankful for you! You were an angel here on earth, and God needed you to help in heaven! You gave children with special needs hope and helped make dreams come true! Heaven truly has gained an angel! Sending love and prayers to your family!
Andrea, I am so glad I got the opportunity to meet you last year. You always lit up a room with your presence. I am smiling and trying not to shed a tear knowing that you are now running the streets in Heaven. You were such an inspiration to so many. I will miss our talks. Prayers go out to your family.
Andrea was such a special, beautiful and fun loving young lady that I will miss seeing. Mark and I send our deepest condolences to the family. Heaven certainly gained a beautiful angel.
Andrea taught so many by example of grace and the fortitude of never giving up. I met her on several occasions and was thrilled to her presence. I formed the Epilepsy Education Association of AR in 1999 and during the last years most of the people I have come in contact have been battling several issues also and I used her as examples of NEVER GIVING UP and you are right. She is running around Heaven and seeing things that we can only dream of. What an experience. She will be missed but she touched so many in her short life;
I am sorry for y'all's loss, but grateful for Andrea's Walk with Jesus. I love y'all, & will be Praying for you all.
I am sorry for y'all's loss, but grateful for Andrea's Walk with Jesus. I love y'all, & will be Praying for you all.
I am sorry for y'all's loss, but grateful for Andrea's Walk with Jesus. I love y'all, & will be Praying for you all.
Bc of you my daughter Kaylee Bug experienced a pagent that she otherwise would never be able to be in! Thankyou so much andrea!!!
May God and the angels have welcomed your beautiful angel with open arms. How many people can say they've done the things this little beauty did? Not many. Bless her, and your family. Merry Heavenly Christmas sweet angel.
Andrea was a special person. We are very sorry for your loss.
I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to know Andrea. I will miss her hugs and seeing her smiling face in the halls at VMS. My thoughts and prayers are with her family this Christmas.
I got to know Andrea from working at Vilonia Primary. I got to see her smile and brighten up the day for many people. Although, I never had the privelage of working with her personally, I know that so many people are better bc they knew this sweet girl!
And Nick Ryan loved her. Her spirit and fire! Shine baby girl, shine!!!!! We love you.
It was a privilege to be called your Uncle Bubba. Love you bunches!
You touched many while you were here. and brought smiles to a lot of children's faces when they walked across the Angels Pageant Stage. May your legacy live on, you will always be in everyone's hearts...
Andrea you wet such a light in all out lives and now you are the star shining down upon us. We will never forget your love and that amazingly beautiful smile. May you run through the fields and splash in the waves in all of the Lord's splendor! God Bless you and your family we love you and miss you! We will be there for your family as we share in their grief!
I only had the honor of meeting this beautiful young lady twice, but she touched me greatly! Her smile could light up the room! She will always be the brightest star in Heaven!
You were such an inspiration Miss Andrea!! I loved looking at all your beautiful pictures in your pageant dresses. You were a beauty not only on the outside but on the inside as well. You touched so many lifes and will always be remembered! Praying always for your unbelievable mother, father and your sister's. This world is a better place because you were in it!! Love and prayers to the Thorn family!
BJ,
My thought and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I didn't know Andrea, but if she was anything like you, I know she was amazing and that I missed out by never have had the chance to meet her.
Thinking of you,
Jason Pitts
Your family in Arizona are up lifting you in our prayers. Our sincere condolences to each of you.
Lisa Hudgens Taylor & family - Don & Bea's daughter. Along with Bea Dickerson Hudgens Childs & husband Joel Childs
love & hugs
Just wanting you to know that we are all thinking of your family BJ. I have smiled and shed a tear at some of your stories of Andrea. Your quite an inspiration.
With much love!!
The Cash Family
Andrea, you are the epitome of what an angel truly is. You will be greatly missed by so many people, whose lives you have touched. Sending love your way in heaven. xoxo
Such a beautiful young lady inside and out. Heaven is even more beautiful knowing you are there.
So very sorry for your loss. Andrea will truly be missed. God has an extra special angel now!
Bj, Jonathan, Bailey Jo, and Lauren Grace- we are heartbroken. We pray that God gives you comfort. Andrea was an amazing girl-so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet her.
You guys are in our prayers! We are here for you.
Keith and Debra Rorie
What an honor to know you. You have left behind shoes that will never be filled. You changed the world in the short time you were here. I am blessed to have been in your presence.
My prayers are with you all. Andrea brought joy to everyone who knew her. I will treasure my memories of our time together.
BJ,Jonathan, Baylee & Lauren,
I am very sorry for the loss of your sweet angel. She was truley a blessing to everyone she met. You can take comfort in God and in knowing she's up there running all around jumping dancing and playing like she never could here. My prayers are with you all.