Lynn Thompson

Lynn Thompson, 81, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, April 30, 2004, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born March 7, 1923, at Holcomb, Mo., son of Mack and Bertha Fox Thompson. He and Betty Jo Nowell were married Feb. 22, 1942, in Pensacola, Fla.

Thompson owned and operated the Best Western Motel in Cape Girardeau as well as motels in Mayfield, Murray, and Fulton, Ky., and he farmed in the Lilbourn, Mo., area. He was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church.

He was ordained a deacon in 1967 and was a Sunday school teacher. He was a member of the Harold O. Grauel Lodge 672; a past venerable master of Scottish Rite; a chapter dad of the Cape Girardeau DeMolay for six years; a board member of the Ironton Baptist Home and regional governor of Best Western district 3.

Survivors include his wife; five daughters, Donna Lynn Neal of Indianapolis, Ind., Karen Sue Carmody of Sikeston, Mo., Beverly Jo Simmons of Maynard, Ark., Tonja Louise Tankley of St. Louis, Mo., Robin Elizabeth Miller of Jackson; a sister, Fern Faye Riley of New Madrid, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by eight brothers and a sister.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. A Scottish Rite service will be at 7 p.m. Monday and a Masonic service will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lynwood Baptist Church, with the Rev. Derek Staples officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.