Gene C. Thompson, 71, Pace, Fla., formerly Jamesport, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at his home in Pace after a long battle with cancer.
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Graveside services for Gene Thompson will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, at Masonic Cemetery in Jamesport. There is no scheduled visitation. Arrangements are by Whitaker-Eads Funeral Home, Trenton. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the LTC/SRHS Association or the Relay for Life, and be left at or mailed to the funeral home.
Gene C. Thompson, 71, Pace, Fla., formerly Jamesport, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at his home in Pace after a long battle with cancer.
Mr. Thompson was born on Oct. 3, 1934, at Jamesport, the son of Wesley and Venna Chrisop Thompson. He was raised at Jamesport and graduated as valedictorian from the Jamesport High School. He then attended Trenton Junior College while operating a salvage yard and auto body business at Gallatin with his cousin.
He served in the Army during the Suez Canal Crisis, begin stationed in Southampton, England. He then completed his business degree at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1963.
He was married to Betty Jo Bruns on Sept. 18, 1965, at Jamesport.
After graduating from law school, he served as the city attorney for St. Joseph, and partner in the law firm of Kimball and Thompson, Cameron. He then practiced law in southwest Missouri for 25 years, specializing in corporate estate tax and trial law. Upon retirement from his law practice, he continued with the Neosho Propane Gas Corporation and his oil and gas leases in Oklahoma.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church. He served on the Troop 9 Boy Scout Board of review chairman for the Mo-Kan area. As merit badge counselor, he taught Star, Life, Eagle and Order of the Arrow required badges. He served as president of the United Fund, Kiwanis Club, Red Cross, Broadview Country Club, Chamber of Commerce and the United Methodist Church building fund. He also served as board chairman of the water and electric company. He was instrumental in organizing the Maple Leaf Festival through the University of Missouri and the Ducks Unlimited art shows.
Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his father, Wesley Thompson, and a foreign exchange daughter, Anna Palina Arnidottir of Rejavik, Iceland.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo of the home in Pace; one son, Cmdr. Kent Thompson of the Navy, stationed in Ewa Beach, Hawaii; two daughters, Gina Mitchell of Hickory, N.C., and Anna Neese of Pace; his mother, Venna Thompson of Trenton; one sister, Ruth Scott of Trenton; and four grandchildren.