The People’s Tribune

Helen Emma Jean Thompson

Helen Emma Jean Myrick Thompson, 96, of Vandalia died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2017 at Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, Vandalia. Officiating will be the Rev. Joel Montgomery. Music will be provided by Joy Davis, organist. Interment will be in the Vandalia Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m., at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia.

She was born in St. Charles and later moved with her family to a farm near Curryville. Helen was a 1938 Bowling Green High School graduate and later attended Miss Hickey’s Secretarial School in St. Louis.

Helen worked as the secretary to the Extension Service Agent and Farm Bureau and then briefly worked for Missouri State Senator Edward Long. She then worked in the McIlroy and Long Law Office and spent a number of years as a secretary at the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis. After marriage, she moved to the Vandalia-Middletown area where she became a homemaker.

She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and Sunday School teacher and was active in the Ruth Circle.  She was also a member of Chapter CE PEO and the St. Cecilia Music Club.

Helen enjoyed sewing, gardening, canning, writing and painting and stayed socially linked with many friends and family on Facebook.

She was born Jan. 11, 1921 in St. Charles County the daughter of Ernest Barnes and Ruth Rebecca Studer Myrick. She married James William “Bob” Thompson on Oct. 15, 1955 in St. Louis. He preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 2005.

Survivors include one daughter, Lisa A. Newland, and husband, Terry of Vandalia; one son, Craig M. Thompson, and wife, Karen of Joplin; a brother, William Myrick, and wife, Eva of Pea Ridge, Ark.; eight grandchildren, Amy (Brad Ward) Newland, Betsy (Larry) Finley, Wesley (Amy) Newland, Peter (Jordan) Thompson, Samuel Thompson, Jesse (Alissa) Thompson, Emma Thompson, and Tyler Thompson; four great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob; one brother, Robert Myrick and two sisters, Ernestine Wallace and June Nolan; and one grandson, James William Newland.

Pallbearers will be Wesley Newland, Peter Thompson, Samuel Thompson, Jesse Thompson, Tyler Thompson and Larry Finley.

Memorials are encouraged to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 240, Vandalia, MO 63382.

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