Free Fallin'

August 08, 2008 10:13 am

— Carman Williams
cwilliams@weatherforddemocrat.com
Local shop owner Marie Thornton planned to celebrate her 86th birthday, in June, with a tandem skydive. The jump was pushed back, but Thornton finally made her jump Aug. 3, breaking her ankle during the landing.
“Other than that it was wonderful, just wonderful,” the great-grandmother of two said.
Thornton was at a soccer game last year when a group of skydivers caught her attention, and that Christmas her four children presented her with a gift certificate for a jump.
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren went to Hillsboro with Thornton to see her dive.
Thornton’s son, Sam Thornton, said although his mother broke her ankle, she had a good time free-falling at 150 miles per hour.
Until her ankle heals, Thornton’s Colonial Art Shoppe on the Square will remain closed and all its deliveries will be diverted.
Patrons to the store are greeted by a photo of Thornton’s jump, along with the sign posted by Thornton’s children: “The shop will be closed today due to the owner breaking her ankle while being silly.”

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