Beverly Thompson

Hazel Beverly (Bev) Thompson died Monday, July 6, 2015 at Corvallis Manor in Corvallis, Oregon. The eldest of three children, she was born August 23, 1920 to James C. Huffaker and Leta Roxie (Horn) Huffaker on their homestead in Wild Horse, Colorado. The family moved back to the Huffaker family homestead in Broken Bow, Nebraska where she grew up with her brothers, Dillard A. Huffaker and Robert James Huffaker, both deceased. Her mother died when Beverly was only 5 years old, but she was raised in a loving, supportive extended family with her paternal grandparents, father and many aunts, uncles and 15 cousins that she saw daily. In May of 1940 she married Charles Richard (Dick) Thompson, who would be her husband of 58 years, until his passing in October1998. In 1938 Beverly graduated from Broken Bow High school with a Normal Training Teaching Certificate at 18 years of age, and taught in the Custer County school system for two years until she married. They then moved with her husband’s extended family to Corvallis, Oregon in August, 1940 to a farm South of Corvallis where they became actively involved with the community life. They joined the Willamette Grange, the Double Or Nothing Pinocle group, the Ladies Extension club, Rebekahs, Pithian Sisters and she became involved in a long career of 4-H leadership teaching cooking and sewing. When she entered the work force in 1959 she became the 4-H extension secretary working in the Extension service, both for Benton County and OSU campus offices until her retirement in 1981. When they married and moved to Oregon Dick promised that they could visit her father in Nebraska every year and that was the direction of most of their travel and vacations during their lives, but they enjoyed a trip to Hawaii and she went on a much loved trip to Europe with a friend. She enjoyed a very close, loving relationship with her two brothers and their families with frequent family dinners and vacations at the beach. Always artistic and creative she began painting, taking lessons from instructors from OSU, especially, Tom Allen and eventually began china painting which she went on to teach. Handwork, quilting and gardening were other activities, and reading was a life-long love, beginning in an attic window seat or the branches of a beloved apple tree in her grandfather’s orchard. Beverly reluctantly sold the house built in 1958 by her husband, uncle, Tobe Huffaker and brother, Bob Huffaker and moved into Timberhill Place where she enjoyed the wonderful care and friendship of many. After several health reversals she moved to Corvallis Manor where she received loving care until her death July 6th. She is survived by her children: Deanna Stockwell (Kent) of Corvallis, Oregon, and their children: Todd (Karen) Butler of Huntsville, Alabama and sons, Daniel, Ed and his son Benjamin Vancil; Jennifer (Jason) Butler-Brown and son Tobin of Portland, Oregon; Connie Dinneen (Denis) of Walterville, Oregon, and son Peter (Julianne) and Isabel Epstein of Reno, Nevada; and Tom (Kathy) Thompson, and daughters Laurel and Sophie of Corvallis, Oregon. Several nieces, a nephew and cousins through out the country who provided support. There will be a memorial service in her honor July 30th, 1 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, Oregon on 1165 NW Monroe, Corvallis, Oregon. with a reception following. Memorials may be sent to: Vina Moses Foundation, Corvallis, Oregon; the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, Oregon; or the charity of your choice.

Tributes

Beverly Thompson

August 23, 1920 - July 16, 2015