Danny Joe Thornton
November 13, 1951 - January 8, 2026
NLRHS Class of 1970
Danny Joe Thornton, age 74 of Sherwood, Arkansas passed away on January 8, 2026.
He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 13, 1951 to the late Eugene Burns Thornton and Martha Irene (Bryant) Thornton.
Danny Joe was preceded in death by his parents Gene and Martha Thornton, an infant brother Joe Thornton, his son Daniel Shay Thornton, and his brother-in-law Lennie Bauman (Dorothy).
Danny is survived by his wife of 20 years Donna Jean (Bland) Thornton; his daughters Marty Ramey (Kenny), Jessica Smoke (Timmy) all of Virginia; his sons Bobby Gassaway and Johnathan Gassaway (Jill) both of Sherwood; his brother Quinn Thornton (Cissy) of Conway; sisters Mary Lou Bland (Mike) of Bryant and Dorothy Bauman of North Little Rock.
Danny is also survived by his grandchildren that he loved so much James, Julyn, David, and Johnny Ramey, Cole and Timmy Smoke all of Virginia, Gage and Jude Gassaway, Sam, Evan, Ben, and Will Gassaway, and his baby great-granddaughter Freya Gassaway.
Danny volunteered to serve his country in the United States Marines. He was shipped to the Vietnam War, where he served until he was severely wounded and honorably discharged. He received numerous medals including the Purple Heart. He volunteered at the DAV in Gravel Ridge. Danny Joe was an “old school, one-of-a-kind guy”. He will always be deeply loved and missed by his family and friends.
A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400.
