Iris Murchison Thornton died on January 24, 2017 at the age of ninety-one.

Iris was born on November 24, 1925 to the late Angus Bethune and Nida Pierce Murchison. She grew up in Harrells, North Carolina. She was a graduate of Kings Business College in Raleigh, where she met her husband James Malcolm Thornton. They moved to Fayetteville in 1945, where they founded Patterson Moving and Storage.

Iris's greatest love was for her family, friends, and community. Iris and James were founding members of First Christian Church, where she was the organist for many years. They later became members of Highland Presbyterian Church. She served on the boards of Southern National Bank, New East Bank, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, and Cumberland Community Foundation. In 1995 she was awarded Methodist University's Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur. Iris was a member of The Literary Club and The Supper Club. She also enjoyed her Sewing Club and Friday Friends.

Iris is survived by her children James M. Thornton, Jr. and wife Diane, of Fayetteville, Marilyn Kiser and husband Tom, of Fayetteville, and Ann Sneeden and husband David, of Wilmington. She was blessed with eight grandchildren; Cynthia Thornton Maddox and husband Matt, Scott Hall Thornton, James M. Thornton III, Elizabeth Kiser Williams and husband Taylor, Thomas Neil Kiser, Jr. and wife Kelly, David Gray Sneeden, Jr., Christopher Andrew Sneeden and wife Annie, and James Robert Sneeden, and two great grandchildren, Caleb Thornton Maddox and Elizabeth Moore Sneeden. The family wishes to express gratitude to Iris' caretakers Ola Mae Harold, Virginia Smith, and Merilyn Whitted, as well as the staff at the Carolina Inn, for their compassion and loving support.

A celebration of her life will be held at Highland Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at twelve o'clock. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorials be made to Highland Presbyterian Church (111 Highland Ave. Fayetteville, N.C. 28305), Cumberland Community Foundation, (308 Green Street, Fayetteville, N.C. 28301), or Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation's Friends of the Cancer Center (1638 Owen Drive, Fayetteville, N.C. 28304)