Tyrek Lashawn Thornton was born to Amy Gaten and Emmanuel Phillips on July 29, 2003, in Springfield, MO. He came to live with and be loved by Andy and Sarah Thornton in 2007 and was adopted by them on September 16, 2009. Tyrek passed from this world on June 24, 2025, at the age of 21.

Tyrek was an unusually handsome boy with big brown eyes and long eyelashes. He was intelligent, thoughtful and intense. In elementary school, Tyrek was always top of his class. He was awarded the “deep thinker award” in kindergarten, won several language arts awards for his writing, and was talented at drawing and quick at math. He would spend hours building intricate Lego planes, completing jigsaw puzzles, or designing cars using computer code. He loved his friends and teachers at Boyd Elementary and the YMCA summer program. He enjoyed riding bikes and swimming with Samiya and Darion. He dominated at tetherball at recess. Tyrek’s laugh was contagious, and his family and friends considered it a good day when they heard it. He loved Grandma Loene’s strawberry cake and always requested it for his birthday. Hong Kong Inn’s sweet and sour chicken was his meal of choice.

Tyrek attended Dayspring Christian School from 7th-11th grade and was well-loved by the Dayspring community. He worked hard his senior year to earn his GED through the DYS Excel School and certificate in auto body collision repair from OTC. During adulthood, he worked at several jobs, including HyVee, The Grotto, and Wendy’s. He loved listening to and creating rap music and also…smoking weed. (This is where Tyrek would have laughed if he was reading this.)

Tyrek’s most valued relationships were with his siblings: Darion, Samiya, Shaquille, Jericho, Kailah, Marquese, and a sister and brother on the Phillips side. Countless people loved and poured into Tyrek. Tyrek gave his life to Jesus when he was 8 years old, and we are trusting that he is now experiencing peace, joy and love in heaven. We will all miss him until we see him again. A come-and-go visitation will be Saturday, July 5, at 3:00-4:00pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North.  Tyrek’s family will be holding a private memorial service . Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Tyrek’s honor to Borrow My Angel or the Springfield Dream Center.

https://borrowmyangel.org/donate

https://www.springfielddreamcenter.com/donate