Frances "Bootsie" Isabel Thompson

Frances Isabel (Archer) Thompson, whom everyone knew as Boots or Bootsie, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 21, 2016, at the age of 79. Boots had specified her wishes in advance for no services, but respects were paid to her during her illness by hundreds of friends who either visited, called, or kept her in prayer. Frances was born October 15, 1936 to Aubrey Archer and Ruth (Kendrick) Archer in Thornton. She grew up in Thornton, and was given the nickname of Boots when she was four or five by a neighbor, Henson Sherrod, because of the cowboy boots she wore and her love for her little paint horse, Trixie. Boots graduated from Thornton High School in 1954. While in high school, she fell in love with an older school friend, Jack Thompson. When she graduated, Jack was in the Army, first in El Paso and then stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota. Bootsie had not seen him for two years, so she decided to go where he was and marry him. Jack’s sister and brother-in-law, Billie Ruth and Holvys Turner drove her to South Dakota. Frances and Jack were united in marriage on June 13, 1954 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She remained there, working in a local department store where she was also a model for the store, and as a church secretary, until he was discharged. They moved back to Oletha, and while he worked for the Highway Department she worked at Allman Thompson’s general store in Oletha, and later at Shugart’s Plumbing in Groesbeck. Then she began a career with Gulf States Telephone (through all the phone company name changes) and retired after twenty-six years. But she didn’t stay retired; she worked at the State School and then at Shultz Pharmacy, making many friends with customers everywhere she worked. Boots and Jack gave their two sons the wonderful experiences of travel, camping out and learning to appreciate nature while they were growing up. Since 1966, they took the boys on camping trips to Arkansas, graduating to the mountains in Colorado, a trip to Canada, and many weekend trips to Galveston. She loved the camping, in spite of the extra work for her and the danger of sleeping in a tent in bear country, and loved hiking in the mountains with Jack. She and Jack decided to build a home in the mountains located twenty minutes from Westcliffe, Colorado. The family all worked together and "dried-in" the house in one week, and then Boots and Jack worked on it for the next four or five years until it was completed. They made a couple of trips there each year, and her favorite time was in September when the aspen leaves were changing and the deer were coming up in the yard. They also loved taking the grandchildren on trips including weekend trips to Galveston and Glen Rose, as well as to Colorado. Bootsie made sure all of her grandchildren had cars to drive and that they graduated from college. Bootsie’s work and vacations did not interfere with her role as a wife, mother and homemaker. She was a perfectionist homemaker, with high standards for her home, and she was a wonderful cook, who could top any TV cooking show host with her baking, all of which was “from scratch,” with no boxed mixes used. Her “made from scratch” recipes were not written down, so will remain her secrets. Bootsie was a “self-less” lady always serving her friends and neighbors in any way she felt was needed. She provided loving care for her sister-in-law, Billie Ruth Turner for some of the last years of her life, and drove others to the doctor and for treatments many times. She visited the nursing homes to visit friends several times a week, and provided countless food to others. She did not like attention called for her works, but would only say she was “supposed to do for others.” During the last years, she and Jack enjoyed riding around the country roads, counting deer, every evening at dusk. She was a faithful member of the Old Union Church of Christ, who served the Lord in her deeds and love for others. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; her infant son in 1955; her sister, Mary Beth Orosz; sister-in-law, Billie Ruth Turner. She is survived by her husband, Jack Thompson of Oletha; son, Kelly Thompson of Oletha; son, Kyle Thompson of Abilene; grandson, Carl Thompson of Bedford; granddaughter, Nikki Thompson of Woodlands; grandson, Shane Thompson of Austin; granddaughter, Whitney Thompson of Fort Worth; grandson, Keifer Thompson of Ava, MO; granddaughter, Keelie Thompson of Ava, MO; great grandson, Aiden Adkins of Groesbeck; sister-in-law, Dorothy Thompson of Old Union; brother-in-law, John Thompson of Old Union; and daughter-in-law, Denise Thompson of Oletha. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory may be made to any charity of your choice, or just carry on as Bootsie tried to live by helping a neighbor in need.