Marjorie Thompson

Marjorie Helen Miller Thompson, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed at the heritage home of her birth, 100 Longview Place, Cape Girardeau early Tuesday morning surrounded by her loving family.

She was born June 13, 1925, at "Longview" in Cape Girardeau to parents Bertram A. Miller of Red Wing, Minn., and Ella Keller Miller McGowan. Marjorie was the great-granddaughter of Col. G.C. Thilenius, a pioneer and civic leader of Cape Girardeau in the late 1800s through the turn of the century. Marjorie was married to Wayman R. "Tommy" Thompson, who preceded her in death in 1987.

She attended Franklin School and was active in sports and music. The violin was her favored instrument, but she also acquired proficiency in piano and dancing. In later years she played with the Cape Girardeau Symphony and for a time had a small group named Marge and Her Singing Strings. She attended the original Central High School and was active in music and served as concert mistress of the orchestra. After high school graduation she briefly attended Southeast Missouri State University before meeting her husband "Tommy" during World War II.

She married Wayman R. "Tommy" Thompson on June 25, 1943, while he was receiving his commission as pilot and he later flew the B-24 Liberator to Italy, where he completed 52 missions. Wayman "Tommy" Thompson hailed from southeast Alabama, "The Valley" and the Southern charm was installed into the family. While flying missions, his daughter Nancy Carolyn was born on July 21, 1944. After his discharge, Tommy and Marge along with her parents were co-owners of Sunny Hill Feed and Seed Store and Sunny Hill Poultry Co. Inc. Trisha Catherine was born on Oct. 11, 1946, and the family grew their business until 1958 where the Poultry Processing Plant was relocated to Cabool, Mo.

While raising two young daughters, Marge was an active participant in both business and parenting; she was the office manager for the business and taught Sunday school in Cape Girardeau and then continued her support of Girl Scouts when the family moved to Cabool, Mo. Marge served on many civic committees and was recognized by the school board and the mayor's office. Her work with the Girl Scouts earned her the Women of Impact award from the Otahki Council in 2004 for her continued support of Scouts in the Cape Girardeau area.

Two more daughters were born while in Cabool, Julia Elizabeth and Lisa Anna, as the poultry business continued to grow. The eldest daughter, Nancy, married, and Marge acquired her pilot's license as the family flew to various locations around the southeast for business and pleasure.

In 1966, Marge and her husband Tommy retired to southwest Florida, where they established several businesses and raised their second set of daughters. She continued her support of Scouting and became an exceptional golfer. In 1977. she returned to her ancestral home at Longview, where she and Tommy became active volunteers at Southeast Hospital Association Foundation. She became a lifetime member of the Women's Auxiliary and served the Cape area Meals on Wheels program.

Marge was also involved with the Creative Arts Guild, the Humane Society, SEMO Council of the Arts, Cape Genealogical Society, State and National Trusts for Historic Preservation, the Historical Society of Greater Cape Girardeau, the Bicentennial Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission. Her foremost volunteer interest was serving as an officer and director of the Cape River Heritage Museum for many years. In 2003, she received the Award of Excellence in Historic Preservation from the Sigma Pi Kappa chapter at Southeast Missouri State University.

Marge was known for her eternal optimism, her love of a great time with friends and family, her commitment to recording the Keller and Thilenius heritage and her dedication to her ancestral estate known as "Longview." She was a lifetime member of Evangelical United Church of Christ; her survivors include daughters, Nancy and her husband Frank E., L'Hommedieu III from Tallahassee, Fla., Trisha Kell residing at Longview, Julia Thompson, recently moved to Cape Girardeau and residing at Longview, Lisa Thomas from Raleigh, N.C.; grandson, Darren L'Hommedieu and granddaughter-in-law Christine L'Hommedieu and their children Nicole and Tommy from Cape Coral, Fla.; granddaughter Kristen Kell, from Miami, Fla., Audrey Stanfield from New York City, N.Y., and Michelle Stanfield, Raleigh, N.C.; nephew Wayman Duffey from Newnan, Ga.; and numerous relatives in the Cape Girardeau and central south Alabama region.

Visitation and a celebration of Marjorie's life will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel, with special remembrances starting at 5:30 p.m. Burial will be a private family ceremony on Friday, July 29, at Lorimier Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family requests that memorials be given to the Col. G.C. Thilenius and Marjorie H. Thompson Historic Preservation Scholarship Fund or the Marjorie H. Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund for Theatre and Dance at Southeast University Foundation; One University Plaza, MS-7300, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.