Nelma Jean (Jeannie) Thompson of Lewisville, Texas passed away on June 2, 2019 at the age of 85. She was born on September 8, 1933 to Ted and Gertrude (Barber) Bernard in Trenton, New Jersey. Jeannie and her parents returned to Texas in her early childhood and lived and went to school in the Park Cities area. She went on to Trinity University in San Antonio where she earned her degree and met her future husband. On December 26, 1955, Jeannie married Wofford Clinton Thompson, Jr. in Dallas, Texas. While raising their four children, Jeannie taught school in McKinney, worked with her father’s family business in Dallas (Bernard Fain Carpets) and then her husband’s family newspaper business (The McKinney Examiner). During this time, she also served in her church as a Sunday School teacher and Choir Director. Jeannie was 34 when she received the life of Jesus at the kitchen table of a dear friend. In Jeannie’s own words, “At that very moment, the Spirit of Jesus began living in me. Although I sometimes veer from His perfect direction what a wonderful journey it has been, and continues to be.” Jeannie enjoyed writing for and working with children’s ministries. Two of her most treasured opportunities occurred in the 1990’s when Gerbert, “the loveable puppet with a Christian message”, was entertaining children on TV and in live audiences. And who better to be cast as Gerbert’s “Aunt Jeannie” than Jeannie Thompson! Jeannie had written more than one hundred 5–minute episodes, which she and Gerbert enacted and recorded — a different story for each day played electronically when children dialed a special phone number. Soon after her husband’s death, Jeannie moved to Carrollton, Texas, where she attended Bent Tree Bible Fellowship and enjoyed working with their highly–acclaimed puppet ministry. In the year 2000, God set Jeannie on a different course, becoming the beloved receptionist for Basic Gospel. Not only did she prove to be a friendly and welcome voice for the ministry, her passion for writing and love of the Gospel made her a uniquely qualified proofreader for the ministry's various resources including several she authored. During her time on staff she spent countless hours republishing her previous books and writing new ones for her favorite audience of all – children. Several months after her first retirement, Jeannie decided that she needed something to do and applied to be a Walmart greeter. Instead, Basic Gospel's Bob Christopher insisted that she take her rightful place at the front desk where she served faithfully until her second retirement in November 2014. Even then she volunteered several times a week and continued to attend Wednesday Bible studies with friends. During this chapter of her life she wrote her last two books, and God said… Let there be donkeys! and When God Tore the Curtain. These included illustrations by her grandson Chris Thompson. Her love of writing knew no bounds as she proved by embracing social media. She began sharing many of her wonderful stories on her blog and Facebook in May of 2016. Jeannie was a light to everyone who met her … knew her … or worked with her and was loved by all. Jeannie knew that joy and contentment in life come only through a relationship with Jesus. Christ in you, the hope of glory, which she is now experiencing in glorious abundance, in the eternal presence of her God and Savior (Colossians 1:27).
Jeannie is survived by her daughters, Pam Nugent of Abilene, Texas and Mary Thompson of Lewisville, Texas; sons, Doug Thompson and wife, Rochelle of Carrollton, Texas and Rick Thompson of Lewisville, Texas; grandchildren, Stacey Guevara and husband, Matthew of Frisco, Texas, Heather Stringer and husband, Lee of Frisco, Texas, Chris Thompson and wife, Andrea of Plano, Texas, Jon Crosswhite of Las Colinas, Texas, Courtney Brockel and husband, Jesse of Carrollton, Texas, and Ashley Portier and husband, Jeremy of McKinney, Texas; great grandchildren, Allison Breazeale, Aleigha Thompson, Braeden Stringer, Kylie Portier, Kason Stringer, Ian Crosswhite, and Layla Guevara; and numerous other loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wofford Clinton Thompson, Jr. and parents, Ted and Gertrude Bernard.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. A graveside inurnment will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 14, 2019 at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen.
The family would appreciate donations in her name to Basic Gospel Ministries, Lewisville, Texas.