South Alabamian

Robert Mason Thornton


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Robert Mason “Robby” Thornton passed away Monday, May 9, 2022, at the age of 57. Robby was a graduate of Fruitdale High School in the Class of 1983. Throughout his high school years, he played football and baseball. Robert was given the nickname “Robby” by his Pawpaw John and the name stuck. Following graduation, he attended The University of Alabama for two years. Robby worked for Brown & Root and Tate & Lyle companies. He loved to work on houses as a carpenter installing metal.

Robby met his wife Nikki, married her, and the two have been inseparable since. Married 12 years, for their 12th anniversary, the pair got matching reels and rods, along with a tackle box with cup holders.

Some of Robby’s many talents included cooking, singing and carpentry work. Robby loved to cook different foods, especially anything spicy. With his talent, he won three chili cook offs. As a gifted carpenter, he made a cross out of wood pallets that he built into the floor of their house. His singing talent allowed him to sing at weddings and to Nikki, “I’m going home to rock my baby Teddy Bear.” He could also sing like Elvis.

Robby was a member of Sunflower Independent Community Church in Sunflower. Hunting deer, turkeys, hogs and fishing, brought great enjoyment. Throwing a cork in any fishing hole he passed was his goal. Robby took Nikki hog hunting. The first hog hunting trip was at night. She heard a squealing noise and thought the hog had gotten her dog. Actually the dogs were playing tug a war with the hog. His special hunting dog, a Catahoula, and named Troy, after Troy on the show “Swamp People.”

Robby was a very likeable person and a jokester. He loved his family and friends. He especially loved to spoil his grandchildren. Robby was a son, brother, husband, father, pawpaw and friend. He will be missed by all.

Survivors include his wife of 12 years, Ashley “Nikki” Mathers Thornton; sons, Chris (Rachel) Pruitt, William (Joni) Pruitt, Christopher Robert (Sarah) Pruitt, Jonathan Graham Pruitt and Carter Napier; daughters, Katrina Pruitt and Emily Napier; grandchildren, Michael Pruitt, Christian Pruitt, Madison Martin, Dylan Martin, Spencer Pruitt, Hunter Goforth, Jonathan Goforth, Brayden Pruitt and Remington Thornton; great-grandchildren, Brooklynn Goforth, Brantley Goforth and Harley Goforth; brothers, Thomas Allen Thornton and Greg (Shannon) Thornton; and parents, Robert Lee Thornton and Annie Pearl Harris Thornton.

Preceding him in death was his brother, John David Thornton.

Services were Friday May 13, at Sunflower Independent Community Church, Sunflower, AL. Visitation was from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral hour. Interment followed at Yellow Pine Cemetery in Yellow Pine, AL. Officiating was Bro. Bob Younge, with St. Stephens Funeral Home directing.

Pallbearers included Austin Williams, Josh Kline, Larkin Jenkins, Andy Brown, Cliff Reed and Cooper East.

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