Online Source: http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/winn/obits/t/thofam48.txt

Extracted from The Winn Parish Enterprise (Winnfield, LA)
Thursday, August 19, 1948

Sikes Family Killed In Texas Auto Crash

Mr. and Mrs. Harol K. Thornton and their newborn baby daughter died last weekend as the result of an automobile and trailer-truck collision near Galveston, Texas, about 7 o'clock Friday night.

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton and Joel Underwood, of Texas City, were en route to Galveston from their home in Texas City at the time of the accident. The car in which they were riding crashed into the rear of a large trailer-truck, which was reported to have stopped unexpectedly on the highway in front of their car. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton were critically injured, while Underwood, who was driving the car, sustained only minor cuts and bruises. The driver of the trailer-truck escaped injury.

Mrs. Thornton, the former Miss Maxine Kidd of Sikes, died early Saturday morning in St. Mary's Infirmary in Galveston. Her baby girl, removed through a Caesarean operation, was stillborn. The infant was named Peggy.

Harol K. Thornton, 22 year old army veteran of World War II, died Sunday night at a Galveston hospital, two days after the accident.

Funeral services for the three victims of the collision were held at the Beech Creek Church in Winn Parish at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, August 17, with the Rev. Grayson Emmons officiating. Burial was in Beech Creek Cemetery under direction of Southern Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Crosby Adams, Jr., C. A. Walker, O'Neal Hatten, Louis Taylor, Curtis Hatten, and Hershel Kidd.

Mrs. Margie Maxine Kidd Thornton is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Maxie Kidd of Sikes; three brothers, Freddie, Melvin, and Garland Kidd, all of Sikes; one sister, Diane Kidd of Sikes; and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Walker, Sr., of Sikes.

Her husband, Harol K. Thornton, 22, is survived by his mother, Mrs. Evie Stearns [sic Sterns] of Sikes; his stepfather, Cline Stearns [sic Sterns], Sikes; one sister, Ms. Laverne Strong of Shreveport; and a half-sister, Miss Geneva Stearns [sic Sterns] of Sikes.

During the war Thornton served in the U. S. Engineers. He joined the Army September 24, 1943, received his training at Camp Claiborne and was sent overseas December 18, 1943, where he served in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. He was honorably discharged several months ago. Harol was the son of the late Guy K. Thornton.