Nell E. Thompson

Services for Nell E. Thompson, 81, of Memphis, TX formerly of Amarillo will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Hughs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Memphis, TX with Rev. C.W. Parker, chaplain of Odyssey Healthcare, officiating, and Rev. Johnnie Snider, assisting. Graveside services will be at 5:00 PM in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Amarillo, TX under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home in Memphis, TX. Mrs. Thompson passed away Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Memphis, TX. She was born July 16, 1928 on the family home place in Grand, OK to the late Mr. James W. Hammons and Mrs. Myrtle Finney Hammons. The family moved to Hall County, Texas in 1940, and Nell attended schools in Salisbury and Memphis. She married O.C. Thompson on July 25, 1953 in Amarillo, TX. He preceded her in death on February 23, 2000. Nell’s talents surfaced early in life and she enjoyed many years of sewing and quilting. Mrs. Thompson owned and operated a custom drapery shop in Turlock, CA before moving to Amarillo, TX in 1977. In Amarillo she began a career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a directory assistance operator. Upon retirement she was able to devote her time to quilting and sewing. Mrs. Thompson was a past member of the American Business Women’s Association in Amarillo, and earned the Woman of the Year Award in 1998. Until her illness she was a member of two quilting clubs in Amarillo, having participated in many quilt shows. She also held membership in the Red Hat Society and was a member of Arden Road Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Gregory Delois Harris; two daughters, Raye Ann Harris and Elizabeth Ann Thompson; one brother and four sisters. Mrs. Thompson is survived by two daughters, Mary Shannon of Placerville, CA; Debbie Frederickson of Hughson, CA; one son, Jessie Gayle Harris of Hot Springs MT; one stepson, Melvin Thompson of Costa Rica, Mexico; one stepdaughter, Paula Anderson of Northern CA; one brother, John Hammons of Coolidge, AZ; two sisters, Marylee Hammons Padgett of Medford, OR, Pauline Hammons Johnsey of Memphis, TX; her sister-in-law, Thelma Lewis of Amarillo, TX; nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the CPS Rainbow Room: 3531 SW 15th St. Amarillo, TX 79102, or Meals on Wheels of Amarillo, TX. Family will receive friends on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 7-8 PM at Hughs Funeral Home.