Obituary of Michael Thornton

Michael Lee Thornton passed away from Covid-19, Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse at the age of 39. Born June 30, 1981 in Cortland, NY, Mike was the son of Bonnie Lynn Cobb and William J. Cobb. Honest and unassuming, genuine and forthright, honorable and hilarious - Mike was everything you could ever hope to find in a friend. Whether it was a family member, friend, or the occasional stranger who found themselves in need, Mike was the first to offer a helping hand, and the last to refuse help to anyone. His smile and laughter were contagious, and lit up any space he occupied. It was impossible to know Mike and not love him immensely. After a brief absence, Mike was thrilled to have recently returned to work at Pyrotek, where he'd previously worked for nearly a decade. Mike had a fierce work ethic and was very dedicated. In addition to taking great pride in his work, he was an avid player of the game "World of Warcraft," which he'd been involved with since its inception. He was very proud to have often beta tested new game material for the game's designers. Mike came from a very large, incredibly close knit family. Anyone who knew Mike knew that nothing mattered more to him. On August 12, 2000, Mike married the love of his life, Rebecca (Hendrie) Thornton. He is survived by Becky, along with his daughter, Sarah, and son, Zach. Mike is also survived by his mother, Bonnie Cobb, his grandmother, Shirley Brown, and his siblings, Nicole (Artist) Quiller, Timothy (Kimberly) Allen, and Kristi Allen (Shoun Pinder) - along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. Mike was predeceased by his two infant sons, Brian and Cayden, his grandfather, Ray Brown, his Pop, Bill Cobb, and many other beloved family members. Due to Covid restrictions, there's currently no funeral services planned. There will be a celebration of life, which will be announced on Facebook when the family is ready. In lieu of flowers, there's a GoFundMe set up in order to help Becky and the kids get through the future without Mike, that people might consider donating to.