Obituary
Tarey Joann Thornburg
May 2, 1949 – January 14, 2016
Tarey Joann Thornburg, a resident of Aurora, CO for the past 30+ years, passed away January 14, 2016 at the Denver Hospice Impatient Care Center. Her dear friend, Denise (Dee) Strothmann, also of Aurora, was by her side. Surgery in the previous month did not slow the aggressive cancer with which she was diagnosed in December. She left us without having the time to say her good-byes.
Tarey left California for Denver, Colorado to work for the Channel 2 television station as a station programmer. There were many hours spent on the phone catching up with friends in California.
This remembrance is for those of you who knew Tarey during her life in Colorado, and are just a bit curious about her years in California, 1956-1968.
Tarey arrived in Pleasanton in 1956 and attended Alisal Elementary School from 2-4 grades. Meridyth (Merilou) Noble remembers that first bus ride to Alisal Elementary School; this wide-eyed, little brunette introduced herself asking Merilou if she wanted to sit with her on the bus. My friendship with Tarey began in Pleasanton, CA, 1959. I met Tarey at the Presbyterian Church Fellowship choir practice; I remember she could sing and I just pretended. She just walked right up to me and asked my name, so confident. We did more talking than singing.
Tarey attended grades 5-8 at Pleasanton Elementary. In 1963 it was off to Amador Valley High School where she graduated in 1967.
Tarey was a Forty-Niner Majorette which involved weekly classes in Palo Alto in preparation for the games. This was considered quite exotic and very glamorous at the time. I tagged along for a few of these classes; she was really good!
Tarey was a majorette in the Amador High School Marching Band, and had many friends and fond memories of band trips: most notably annual, thirteen-hour bus trips to Disneyland to perform, and lots of local parades.
Tarey lived with her mother and father, Dr. David and Mrs. Mary Thornburg just outside to Pleasanton. Her parents were very welcoming of her friends and there were some terrific parties up at Tareyís house; how could you miss with a pool in the backyard? Tarey loved Barbra Streisand, Shirley Temple movies, and the Allan Sherman tune, Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah. Tarey also loved Helen Hinkle who was a great friend and advisor.
The purpose of this remembrance is to remind her friends of how much she loved you. Although she wasn’t much for face-to-face visits, she sure knew how to use the phone! Throughout her life she made her own decisions and took responsibility for those decisions.
Tarey was preceded in death by her mother and father. She is survived by her step-mother, Susie, and step-siblings: Stacy, Frank(ie) and Vance.
So, if you knew Tarey, let your memories return to the happy times you spent with her. We can honor her memory in our own special ways. She kept us all in that big heart of hers.