Lifelong Forks resident Eleanor Thornton passed away at the Forks Long Term Care on April 16, 2022. She was 101 years old.

Eleanor’s parents were Casper and Daisy Maxfield and she grew up on the Maxfield homestead at Shuwah. She had several interesting tales about crossing the river and attending the one-room schoolhouse on Gaydeski road before attending Quillayute Union School in Forks. She worked in logging camp dining rooms and was working at the Lake Cresent Lodge when President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the area. She married Floyd Thornton and had a son Cyrus.

Eleanor was a long-time member of Rebekahs (IOOF) and attended meetings in Port Angeles after the local chapter merged. She was also involved with Senior Power, a group that helped seniors. She enjoyed attending Pioneer Club meetings and volunteered for many years at the Timber Museum greeting visitors and answering questions about the area. Her real passion was gardening and was a lifetime member of the Bogachiel Garden Club. She would often comment that she would rather be outdoors gardening than doing housework. In 2006, she was the first woman to receive the Pioneer Logger of the Year award, her husband Floyd was a previous recipient of the honor.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband and 9 siblings Casper(Art), Jessie(Andy), Freemont(Tine), Dudley(Dud), Donald(Amos), Gloria(Muff) Rudy, Darel(Wimpy), Anita(Nite) Tuttle, and Cyrus(Perk).

One of Eleanor’s wisdoms: “The Years Have Gone By So Fast, Make The Best Of What Life Offers You”.

Celebration of Life luncheon to be held at Congregational Church on May 21 at 1 p.m.