Steven Scott Thornton, age 63, of Ozark, passed away on August 29, 2026, at his home. Steven was born to Joe and Pauline (Jones) Thornton on March 24, 1963, in Springfield, Missouri. He was raised in Ozark and graduated from Ozark High School in 1981. He was blessed with two daughters, Stephanie and Kelly. He was a lifelong member of Victory Baptist Church of Ozark.

Steven was employed at a variety of places over the years, but his longest and favorite job was maintaining Garrison Farms for his dear friend, Phil Garrison, for nearly 20 years. When he wasn’t working, he loved to hunt, fish, cook, have roundtable talks at Victory Baptist Church with his best buddy, Junior Henry, listen to St. Louis Cardinals games, go to Springfield Cardinals games, and collect cast-iron skillets and Dutch ovens. He thought he could save any piece of cast iron he came across. Nothing, however, brought him more fulfillment than loving and spoiling his grandbabies, Haven and Arlie. If it was going to cause their mamas a little grief, he was happy to do it—or buy it—for his babies.

One of his greatest achievements in life was making 1,000 lifetime donations with the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. He absolutely loved those blood center girls more than anyone could imagine. He would hang up on his kids just to answer their call.

He will be remembered as selfless, kind, stubborn, and ornery (probably in the opposite order). He was everyone’s Mr. Fix-It. There seemed to be nothing he couldn’t repair or figure out. If you could dream it, he could find a way to build it, and if something was broken, he was the person you called. His first question would be, “Did you check the batteries?” He had a solution for everything. But his greatest gift wasn’t simply knowing how to fix things; it was the way he was always willing to help. He gave his time, knowledge, and his hands freely to anyone who needed him. He leaves behind a legacy of ingenuity, generosity, hard work, and love, with resilience as tough as cast iron. There will always be things that need fixing, but there will never be another person quite like him to fix them in true MacGyver style.

Steven had a way of making his daughters’ friends feel like they belonged. Before long, they weren’t just Stephanie and Kelly’s friends—they were his kids, too. He would always greet them with a HEY KID. He loved them, worried about them, helped them, and made sure they always knew they had a place in his family.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Pauline Thornton; his sister, Donnealia Thornton; his sister-in-law, Judy Thornton; and his niece, Mary Thornton. He is survived by his daughters, Stephanie Thornton (David Lyons) and Kelly Johnson (Gilbert Johnson); his granddaughters, Haven and Arlie; his siblings; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who became family.

A Celebration of Life service for Steven will be held Friday, September 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home and Life Tribute Center in Ozark, with burial to follow at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, his family has requested that donations be made in Steven’s memory to Haven and Arlie’s college fund at Central Bank. Please make checks payable to the Steven Thornton Memorial Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Greenlawn Funeral Home and Life Tribute Center in Ozark, Missouri.