Merilyn Naomi Thompson
November 18, 1922 - July 2, 2010
Obituary
Merilyn Naomi Allan Thompson
Born 11/18/1922 to 7/2/2010. Born and raised in Ballard. Passed peacefully in the early morning on Friday, 7/2/2010. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert E. Thompson, her parents, Charles and Minnie Allan and her 3 brothers, Louis, Howard, and John Allan.
Merilyn graduated Ballard High School. Married and spent the next 20 years raising their 2 sons. She was very active in PTA and was a Cub Scout den mother. She delighted in sewing ‘Davy Crockett’ caps and costumes including ‘Buddy’ a life size boy made for wrestling.
When her husband, Bob, was in Alaska fishing she would pack a picnic lunch, her boys and any other neighborhood children and take them for a day at Golden Gardens. A place very dear to her heart. When Allan and Dan, her sons, said the water was too cold their mom would toss small pebbles at their feet to encourage them to swim and have fun, and they did.
She worked for Safeco Ins. And then the Seattle School District as a secretary, becoming very active in the Seattle School District Secretaries Union. Upon retirement she enjoyed traveling in her motor home with the ‘Good Sam’ Club, camping at Port Townsend and traveling to other countries.
Her greatest loves were family and travel. She was the glue that held our family together.
Survived by her sons Allan Eileen, Dan Diane her grandchildren, Erin , Bryan, David Holly Thompson. Great grandson Judah and great granddaughter, Bennett Thompson. Merilyn is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Sunday, August 1, 2010 from 2pm-6pm at the South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave, Edmonds, WA 98020, www.scscedmonds.org for directions. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local Park and Recreation Department.
Please see www.wiggenandsons.com for extended version of obituary, along with sharing a special memory and signing Merilyn’s online guestbook.
Dear Allan and Danny,
Sorry to hear of your loss, but on the other hand, how nice for you to have had your Mom for all these years. I remember her as I was growing up next door to you. Well, two houses away. She was a strong willed, disciplined, no nonsense lady who, along with your father, truly believed in the family. She was our Cub Scout Den Mother, she was active in the PTA. She saw to it you had church and Sunday School. What more could a loving mother do. I admired her then, and over the years as I’ve thought of the old neighborhood, I always remember Merilyn. I’m so happy to hear she had a long and happy, fulfilled life, with lots of loving family.
We love and miss Aunt Merilyn very much. She was a happy energizing person. I will never forget the trip to Niagra Falls. What fun we had. Lots of memories.
My Aunt M. is dearly missed. My heroine, my travel agent. Fun and laughter, love and big hugs. Memories forever. Keeping us cousins informed of who’s who and what they’re doing. I won’t drive far without a thought of her.
I love my Auntie Merilyn. When my father was sick, she took me for overnighters, camping trips and gave me time away from the realities of a dying parent. I loved her laugh, it always made me smile. She was the keeper of family secrets and always knew who was related to who and why. I can’t say enough about what she did for me personally. Merilyn, along with Dan, Al, and Uncle Bob Bob, gave me wonderful childhood memories. I will never forget her.
Mike Allan, San Diego
Auntie M was my advisor, confesser, friend, second Mom.
she will never be forgotten. Many, many great memories of all the Thompsons.
One of my best memories of my Auntie Merilyn is visiting Santa at the Bon Marche I must have been around four years old. Mike and I also took a road trip with Auntie Merilyn down to see my dad in Milton Freewater, Mike whispered to me when Auntie went to the bathroom does your Aunt talk in her sleep too? We laughed about that trip for the longest time. We also spent several weekends down at Port Townsend when Aunt Merilyn had her trailer there. I guess I got my love of travel and addiction to the beach from her and I will love her forever. Minnie
I don’t know what happened to the one I entered when the site was first active but I will try again.
Great Aunt Merilyn was my favorite person growing up. I loved sitting in the kitchen with the ”grown-ups” mostly women, the men were usually in the living room listening and absorbing the family lore and legends. It is why I was interested in genealogy way before it was ”cool”. I bought my first genealogy book about 1964 and drove some people nuts asking questions, especially my mom, Virginia Allan Steckler. My father-in-law was caretaker of the bldg where she met with her tincrafters club. She even came all the way to Key Center on the Key Peninsula to visit me. She was full of fun and laughter and she tried to keep all the threads of our family together.