Julian
Ray “Butch” Thompson, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed Tuesday,
April 16, 2013 at the Ponca City Medical Center when he decided it was
time to be with his Lord and Savior after a courageous battle with
cancer. He was 67 years of age.
Butch
was born November 12, 1945 at Ponca City, the son of Joseph Ray Thompson
and Florence Johnson Thompson. He attended the Ponca City Schools and
then studied welding at Northern Oklahoma College. He married his loving
wife, Maxine Opal Williams on February 2, 1965 in Winfield, Kansas. He
began his life by taking care of his wife by working for the City of
Ponca City in different fields before joining the Ponca City fire
Department. He and the City got the honor of his service in November of
1967 until he retired as an Assistant Fire Marshall after 28 years of
dedicated service. After the year was over Butch decided to go back to
work for nine and a half more years for the Traffic Engineering
Department of Ponca City.
Butch
loved his community and did that by serving his city. His greatest
contribution was his love of helping others by being a firefighter. He
risked his life for strangers with strength and compassion. Butch, as a
Husband, Daddy, Grandpa and Friend will be remembered for his love of
life, devotion and laughter. He loved the sound of being call Daddy and
Grandpa. His loves were his loving wife, Maxine, children, Joe Ray,
Justin Riah, Juli Rayan, Jill Rayan Linda Sue and Bill Taylor, his
grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to fish, hunt, farm, and
watch his children and grandchildren play sports. His love, devotion,
strength, courage, kindness, and love will forever be remembered.
He is
survived by his wife, Maxine Thompson; his children, Joe and wife,
Jessica Thompson of Ponca City, Justin Thompson of Ponca City, Julie and
husband, Mark Skinner, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jill Thompson and other
half, Terry Smith, of Ponca City, Linda and Kenneth Sherrill of Ponca
City, and Bill Taylor, of Ponca City. Sisters Hazel Chestnut of Dover,
Oklahoma, Beverly Picotte of Tahlahina, Beulah and Ron Sherron of
Tahlequah, Thomasine Blueback of Ponca City, O’resa McKnight of Bressie,
Oklahoma; brothers, Curtis Williams and wife, Eve, of Grand Prairie,
Texas, James Williams of Pawnee, Zack Williams and wife, Kathy, of
Broken Arrow, Don Patterson of Tonkawa, Tyrone Poore and wife, Donna, of
Marland, Don Hamilton and wife, Junie, Mary Pemberton of Ponca City, Sue
Cranford and husband, Wayne, of Ponca City, Cindy Womack of Ponca City;
grandchildren Jodie R. Thompson, Joe Randall Thompson, Haley Slone
Smith, Jacob R. Thompson, Jmikel R. Thompson, Jules R. Thompson, Jax R.
Thompson, Christopher Thomas, Marcos Thomas, Kalie Thomas, Taylor
Blueback; great grandchildren, Jake R. Thompson and Austin L. Smith.
He was
preceded in death by grandpa Joe and Tina Charles, grandma Joe and Julia
Dobbs, mother Florence Johnson Thompson Kelly and father, Joseph
Thompson; brothers C. Leon Thompson, Tom E. Thompson; uncles “Ed”
Johnson, Garland Johnson, mother and father-in-law, Parrish and Eunice
Williams; brothers-in-law Rudoph Williams, Alex Williams, Paige and
Ardena Williams and sister-in-law, Arneva and George Bowhay.
There
will a traditional noon feast held at the Brookfield Wesleyan Church,
3rd and Brookfield in Ponca City on Friday, April 19, 2013. If you will
be attending the noon feast, please bring your chair. Following the noon
feast the funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Pastor Mark Busch will
preside over the service, assisted by Chester Garriger and Oliver
Littlecook. Burial will follow in the Ponca City I.O.O.F. under the
direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
The
family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to The Guardians
of the Ribbons, P.O. Box 1384, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602. Butch would
love that.
