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In Memory

Joshua Thornock - Class of 2001

Joshua (Sauce) Lee Thornock, 26, whose generous nature, community service, and quick wit made him a part of the heart and soul of Bear Lake Valley for 26 years, died at his home in Bloomington, Idaho, on May 22, 2009, from pulmonary embolism.

Whether helping local ranchers, fighting fires in almost every state west of the Mississippi, or helping a friend in need, Joshua gave his all, and joyfully so. The firefighter is known for being "the Hero next door." Joshua really lived up to that description. Even when facing cancer in 2008, He remained optimistic. His cancer was merely an inconvenience, treated much like a mosquito bite.

Joshua's dream when he was very young was to be a firefighter. He realized that dream. He fought fires in many states. And he worked with the USDA on the recovery efforts for the space shuttle Columbia. He helped with the cleanup in Las Vegas during the bird flu outbreak. One of his favorite jobs was working as a sawyer with the Forest Service.

Joshua was born in Logan, Utah, on January 30, 1983. He attended Bear Lake High School in Montpelier, Idaho. He loved snowboarding and snowmobiling in the long, cold Bear Lake winters. During the warmer months, he enjoyed 4-wheeling, hunting, camping and golfing.

Joshua had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wore his scriptures thin studying them and he memorized his favorites. He received his Duty to God Award at age 12. He was ordained an Elder at age 19 and served in the Young Men's program.

A friend quoted this line from a song by Tom Petty - "You were the one who made things different, you were the one who took me in. You were the one thing I could count on, above all - You were my friend.''

For many years, He was the sole confidant and "counselor" to worried teens and friends. His phone number was available for a "help line" -taking hundreds of calls, at all hours - to help console or give uplifting advice. "He had the biggest heart of anybody I ever met in my life," a friend stated.

He often recited a favorite line from the movie ''Masters of the Universe'' - "Don't say goodbye.  Say good journey. Live the journey, for every destination is but a doorway to another. Good journey."

He is survived by his father and mother, Jerry and Lori Thornock; brother and sister-in-law, Zane and Tausha Thornock; sister, Brittana Thornock, all of Bloomington, Idaho; paternal grandparents, Jay and Marge Thornock of Bloomington; maternal grandparents, Lee and Joyce Ream of Dingle, Idaho; and his great-grandmothe,; Elaine Nate of Montpelier, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at 12:00 Noon in the Paris LDS Stake Center. Friends may call at the Stake Center prior to the services from 10 to 11:45 a.m. a.m. There will also be a night visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at the Matthews Mortuary.  Interment will be in the Bloomington Cemetery.