Magnolia Branch Named Spaces
Spaces named for donors include: Dean and Mary Thornton Children's Area and Jim Thixton and Carol Bennett Thixton Meeting Room
Dean and Mary Thornton Children's Area
Dean Thornton was the former president of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. Thornton believed that reading creates an open mind, develops imagination and lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Jim Thixton and Carol Bennett Thixton Meeting Room
Jim and Carol Thixton met as high school teachers in 1962 in Kern County, California. A few years later, a fellowship took Jim to Hawaii where he taught U.S. history and psychology until his retirement. Carol eventually left teaching to work for McCall's Pattern Company doing fashion shows and making local TV appearances all over the country. In 1973 Carol opened her own fashion design and manufacturing company in Hawaii which she ran for 23 years.
Books were at the center of the Thixtons’ life together. Despite living in small spaces and moving several times, the couple collected more than 5,000 books. Each time they moved, the books were carefully boxed as prized possessions.
The Thixtons moved to Seattle in 1996 and made their home in Magnolia. Carol volunteered at the branch library and continued a lifelong dedication to books and learning.