Lucile Thorne

Lucile M. Thome Orem Names Mother of Year by Lynn Tilton

The Orem Boosters have selected Dr. Lucile Markham Thorne as Orem Mother of the Year for 1975. She succeeds Florence Todd Britsch. Mrs. Thorne will be a candidate for Utah Mother of the Year, an honor won by Mrs. Britsch in 1974.

A resident of Orem since 1972, Mrs. Thorne is a native of Spanish Fork where she was born to Joseph and Mary L. Markham. She was educated in the Provo City Schools, Brigham Young High School, and Brigham Young University. Following graduation from the BYU, she taught English and dramatic arts in the Juarez Stake Academy in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. She married Harold Arthur Thorne of Pleasant Grove in 1931 and became the mother of five children. She has 22 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Thorne was killed in 1941 and Mrs. Thorne returned to work, to support her family and mother.

She worked at the Provo Public Library as a librarian then taught second grade in the Joaquin Elementary School, from 1942 to 1948. She spent another year with the public library before accepting a position with BYU library and remained there until 1967 when she became an assistant, then associate professor in the Graduate School of Library Science. She retired last June.

During her time of employment she earned a master of education and a doctor of education from BYU and a library science master's at University of Southern California.

Mrs. Thome is a member of an honorary teachers society, honorary library association, BYU Women and the Alice Louise Reynolds Club. She is president - elect of the Utah Library Association. She has been an active LDS member and has encouraged her children to pursue their education, religious and creative pursuits. All five children are married and have earned master degrees. Two hold doctorates and a third is working toward a doctorate.

One- daughter is teaching at BYU, two are teaching elementary school in California and Indiana while a fourth daughter is a professional writer and a son is an architect in California.

The children have served in leadership positions in civic, religious and professional organizations. Through the years, Mrs. Thorne has found times to participate in dramatic productions and motion pictures for BYU and hold key Church positions. Presently she is teaching a class in children's literature at the Orem City Library for the Alpine Community School program.

-Provo Daily Herald, October 1, 1975, transcribed by Rhonda Holton

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via mother Mary C. Markham (born Lewis) by SmartCopy: Sep 18 2015, 12:15:03 UTC