James Woodrow Thompson (Jimmy or Jim) of Lake Jackson, Texas died peacefully in his home surrounded by family on April 15, 2018. He was 71 years old.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Lorraine Thompson; his son Casey James Thompson of Englewood, Colorado; step-daughter Lisa Marie Lorraine of Lake Jackson, Texas; granddaughter Lyric Sterling Lorraine of Lake Jackson, Texas; sister Patricia Ann Anderson (James) of Carroll, Texas; brothers Alan Venson Thompson (Mary) of Boerne, Texas; Doyle Luther Thompson (Carol) of Bryan, Texas; and, Charles Newton Thompson of Austin, Texas.
Jim is also survived by a host of admiring nieces and nephews including Leon Anderson (Amy) of Mineola, Texas; Shelly Barron (Andrew) of Omaha, Texas; Matthew Thompson (Christine) of Evergreen, Colorado; Greg Thompson (Aimee) of Frisco, Texas; Tamara Latham (Marshall) of Belton, Texas; Amy Ruede (Jim) of Pipe Creek, Texas; Julie Deyo (Jason) of Pearland, Texas; Michael Thompson of Austin, Texas; and, Everett Thompson of Austin, Texas. Great nieces and nephews include Austin Anderson, Riley Anderson, Jackson Anderson, Mason Lemons, Megan Thompson, Chase Thompson, Audrey Thompson, Jamie Ruede, Jenna Ruede, Nathan Thompson, Justin Thompson, Madilyn Latham, Jonathon Latham, Andrea Latham, Jesse Latham, Wesley Winters, Chloe Deyo and Caleb Deyo. Holly Thompson, Casey’s Mother, is a special friend to Jim and the family.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Woodrow Venson Thompson and Doris Anita (Doyle) Thompson of Angleton and Newsom Branch, Texas; grandparents Martin Luther and Mary Emaline (Fussell) Thompson of Thompson Hill near Friday, Texas and William and Nora Bell (Pruitt) Doyle of Newsom Branch, Texas.
Jim was born at the Dow Magnesium Corporation Hospital in Velasco, Texas, on October 26, 1946, and lived in Velasco and Lake Jackson before moving with his family to Angleton, Texas in 1953.
Jim was a part of an extended family with a large number of uncles, aunts and cousins resulting from 15 kids in his Dad’s family and nine kids in his Mother’s family. Growing up was filled with trips to Grannie Mary’s and Granny Doyle’s for big family reunions, Christmas parties, to help on the farm by bailing hay or mowing grass, and, of course, the overnight fishing trips to White Rock Creek to set lines, eat camp food, swat mosquitoes and occasionally catch a few fish (including almost landing an alligator that was hooked on a throw line). Every fishing trip resulted in new tales of adventure and each time the stories were told, the number of fish caught got larger and the fish got bigger.
Jim attended Central and Northside Elementary Schools, Angleton Junior High School and Angleton High School graduating in May of 1965. He loved sports and was a multi-year letterman in football, basketball and baseball. After high school, Jim enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin to study engineering. He transferred to the University of Houston to work in a
cooperative education program where he attended college until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in February 1969. After training, Jim was stationed in Viet Nam and proudly served his Country until his honorable discharge.
After his Army service, Jim attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and received his B.S. degree in Accounting. He then worked as an accountant earned his license as a Certified Public Accountant. Jim ultimately combined his accounting, engineering and management skills to manage construction projects in the petrochemical industry.
Outside of his professional work, Jim was an avid hunter, fisherman, card player and domino spinner. The family “42” tournaments were a regular part of get togethers and Jim rarely didn’t make it to the final table.
For years he ran a fall deer camp near Junction that hosted clients, friends and family. There were always plenty of deer to shoot and he cooked all the camp food – including the evening feast- a dinner salad with all of the ingredients, perfect baked potato and trimmings along with two-inch thick steaks cooked to perfection. Of course, the steak was followed with chocolate pie or homemade peach cobbler.
After ending his deer camp days, he always had a deer lease with some of his best friends where he would go throughout the year. In the fall he would mostly look at animals and enjoy the outdoors and occasionally harvest a deer. He mostly liked to spend time with his family, play dominos and cards and re-tell embellished deer camp stories.
One of the activities for years was the annual fishing trips organized by Jim for those in the big family that wanted to attend. The trips included the “Red Barn” on Lake Sam Rayburn (where it snowed), to Baffin Bay, to the “Jelly Hole” at Galveston and the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Chinquapin. Plenty of fun was had by all and the fellowship was great (even though the fish were few).
Jim had a special knack for naming little yapping dogs including two that neither he or his Dad would claim but they both enjoyed. They were “First Time” and Second Time” – and the origin of the names are a mystery to all but Jim and his Dad. Later on, the family dogs were “Peanut” and “Cashew” and Jim was always saying he was going the fill out the nut tree with more dogs.
Jim was a Texas Longhorn sports supporter and was a “died in the wool believer” that Texas was going to win the College Football Championship every year. If sports paraphilia was available in burnt orange, Jim got it.
He was always a Houston Astro fan, through thick and thin, including attendance at the 24-inning game that Houston won by a score of 1-0. He would always try to make the games pitched by Nolan Ryan – you never knew if it would be a no-hitter. The World Series Championship won by the Astros in 2017 was almost a reward for Jim and his 56 years of support for the team.
As Jim grew older, he received another great love of his life when Lyric was born and he became a Grandpa. He bonded with her at birth and with Mary and Lisa, loved, nurtured and spoiled her to a fault. Lyric was a gift for Jim and one of his regrets was that he would not be able to see her grow up. Lyric was a blessing during his illness. She visited him, cared for him; “doctored him” and most of all loved him. One of her gifts to him was a teddy bear filled with her hugs so that when he needed a hug from her, he could hug the bear. When the bear ran out of hugs, she would fill it back up with hugs for her PawPaw.
Jim had many friends including those that he grew up with in Angleton. Jim Purdom and Mike Blanchard faithfully visited Jim in his illness. They played cards with Jim as did his brothers and most of them owe him money as a result. Many other friends and associates came to visit Jim during his illness and Jim enjoyed each visit.
The family would like to provide special thanks to IPH Home Health Hospice Care and Dr. Jianjun Zhang at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas, for all the care provided to Jim during his illness.
Pallbearers will be Leon Anderson, Matthew Thompson, Greg Thompson, Michael Thompson, Jay Purdom, Jim Ruede, Marshall Latham and Jason Deyo.
Honorary Pallbearers include Wesley Winters, Austin Anderson, Riley Anderson and Mason Lemons.
Visitation is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on April 18, 2018, at the Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, Texas. A service of remembrance will be held at 10:00 a.m. on April 19, 2018, at Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, followed by a 3:00 p.m. service at the Friday Baptist Church in Trinity County, Texas. Interment will follow at the Ellis Prairie Cemetery adjacent to the Friday Church. Reverend James V. Anderson will officiate the services. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or to the charity of your choice