Michele Jensen Thornton met her Lord and Savior Sept. 8. She is survived by her husband, Roy; three sons and their wives: Michael and Alicia, David and Krysta, and Chris and Marianne; her two adored grandbabies Madi and Ashton; her father, Lou; her six brothers and sisters: Rhonda, Tom, Jean, Mitch, Karl and Karla; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who love her dearly. She was preceded in death by her mother, Carol.

Michele was born Oct. 3, 1959, in Naples, Italy, to Lou and Carol (Meske) Jensen. Her father’s Coast Guard assignments moved the family from Italy to California to Kodiak Island to Alabama and back to Kodiak. In 1975 the family moved to Ennis, Mont., where Michele graduated from high school in 1977. She returned to Alaska where she met and married Roy and raised their sons. In 2002 they moved to Greenacres, Wash.

Michele was diagnosed with breast cancer 2-1/2 years ago, underwent treatment and received a clean report in the fall of 2007. This spring a scan revealed the breast cancer had returned and metastasized in several places. She spent this summer living large with her family riding her Harley on several trips, fishing and rafting in Idaho, Montana and Alaska and loving every minute. Michele lived every day of her life with passion and purpose in straight forward direct fashion. Her family was the joy of her world and she was completely selfless in all she did for everyone. Most of all Michele dearly loves her Lord, her God, and we know she is at Peace. God Bless you, Mom, Gramma, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. We love you.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday at 1 p.m., at Valley Real Life Church, Barker Road, Greenacres, Wash. Memorials can be made in Michele’s name to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210.