Obituary

Jerlyn Lee Thompson, 79, of Litchfield Park, AZ passed away on July 5, 2016. She was born October 26, 1936 in Kimball, NE to Gerald Wentz and Verna Miller.   Jerlyn graduated HS in 1954 from Kimball County High and went to Hastings College for a year before marrying her husband Harland in 1956. They moved to Laramie, WY and from there moved to Seattle, WA in 1957.  In April of 1964 they made the move to AZ.  Jerlyn was a wife and stay at home mom until she started working in the Alhambra School District at the Alhambra Traditional School where she retired after 27 years.  She loved working at the school and loved being around all the students.  She always had lots of stories to tell about the kids.  Education was important to Jerlyn and every gift that was sent always included books and something educational.  Jerlyn wanted her grandkids and nieces/nephews to have a love for books and reading as much as she did.

Her own children were always her biggest priority and she never missed a baseball or soccer game, gymnastics meet or dance recital. She volunteered in their classrooms, chaperoned field trips and was the “homeroom mom.”   She had many “adopted” children that called her mom and granny.  She loved them all like they were her own.  Her biggest joy was her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Jerlyn enjoyed every second she could spend with them and loved to brag about their accomplishments.   She had a love for baseball just like her dad.  The Chicago Cubs was her favorite team and Jerlyn enjoyed bantering with her grandson on who was the better team:  The AZ Diamondbacks or the Chicago Cubs.  She has left a lasting impression on everyone she has ever met.

Jerlyn leaves behind her family, extended family, friends and her community that all loved her very much and will miss her. We all share in the grief of losing her, but know that she will always be looking over us and will forever be in our hearts.

Jerlyn is survived by her husband, Clyde Harland Thompson; daughter, Laurie Thompson; sons, Michael (Barb) Thompson and Geoffrey (Pam) Thompson; sister, Charlotte (Al) Zak; four grandchildren, Joseph Ahlin, Mikayla Ahlin, Lee (Victoria) Acosta, and Shelby (Justin) Shepherd; and four great-grandchildren, Wyatt Shepherd, Ace Acosta, Maddie Shepherd, and Sterling Shepherd.  She was preceded in death her parents, Gerald and Verna Wentz.

A visitation will be held at 4:00 pm, Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Park, AZ 85338. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Park, AZ 85338.  The family suggests that donations be made to their favorite charity.