Obituary for Anita (Reed) Thompson
Anita Louise (Reed) Thompson entered her Heavenly home on December 30, 2022. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Kerry Wood and Ronnie Shoffner officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean with Rev. Thacker Haynes officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday January 4, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home.
Anita made a decision long ago to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and because of this decision, she received our Heavenly Father’s love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace and then she willingly poured those Heavenly attributes into those around her. Anita was a devoted wife, Mother, sister, friend, aunt, Mother-in-law, and the best LaLa ever. She exemplified Philippians 2, always putting others before herself and being aware of other’s needs. Anita had a commitment to her faith that sustained her for a lifetime. She grew into being the wife, Mother and godly woman that Proverb 31 describes. This legacy is a gift to those that she leaves behind.
Anita was born September 8, 1938, to Maurice and Ruth Irene (Roberts) Reed. She was their oldest child and also big sister to her four younger brothers. She attended schools in Amarillo, Dallas, and Childress. Anita was a member of the Childress Class of 1957. While in high school, she also worked in Bertha Nave’s dress shop in downtown Childress. She enjoyed the friendships of classmates and later would look forward to their class reunions.
Anita met her cowboy sweetheart, Bob Thompson, while working in the courthouse here in Childress in the County Extension Agent’s office. Bob pretended to be looking for the driver’s license office and peeked in, took off his hat and asked her if she could help him. J.T. and Faye Perkins had told him where she worked and that he should go up and introduce himself. Anita would often tell of their first meeting, in the Fall of 1959, and how handsome Bob looked. His first impression made a lasting impression. Bob, in turn, would describe how beautiful Anita was and how she made his heart flutter. Bob and Anita then got married the next Spring, on March 18, 1960. They eloped to Clovis, New Mexico, on their way to one of Bob’s ropings. They came home to a reception hosted by friends and family. Anita kept her bridal book, registry and other keepsakes. She was the best at journaling daily from the time they married until she was no longer able to record daily happenings. She wrote detailed accounts of prayer needs, Bob’s ranchwork, shipping and brandings, their daughters’ activities, baptisms, deaths, weddings, her family and Bob’s family visits, the weather and much more. Nancy and Kristie have over 50 year’s worth of their Mother’s handwritten memories.
Bob and Anita enjoyed their married life, while Bob made a living being a cowboy, Anita always made their house a home. They had the privilege of living on several big ranches during their lifetime. Anita always kept a beautiful home, as if it were her own, and she was an exceptional cook. If you ever got to eat at their table, it definitely made you want to come back, especially after eating her fried chicken and her chocolate cake. In her later years, she enjoyed baking blueberry muffins everyday. Her grandkids all have great memories of her baking. Hospitality was an obvious gift.
Anita made great friends along life’s way, and each one was such a blessing to her and she was a blessing to them. Church was always important, Bible stories were read, and prayers were said. Anita taught Sunday School, always helped with VBS, enjoyed being a “room mother” for her girls, and was such a good hostess because she loved serving others. She worked at the Cottle County courthouse in the driver’s license office when she and Bob first married. They first lived in the Norris Apartments in town. Anita was always a homemaker and housewife, but during some of their marriage she enjoyed working outside their home. She worked at the ASCS office in Paducah (Rob Hicks). Working in retail at Charlotte’s Boutique (Charlotte Hefley) and Beverly”s Closet (Beverly Wood) were two great experiences for her.
Traveling is something that she and Bob enjoyed together from the time they started dating, often going to ropings wherever Bob was entered. Anita was the best timekeeper and bookkeeper. Together they made wonderful friends. They made time to go and visit their friends, and always had encouraging words for those they stopped in to see. They both appreciated the good people that were placed in their lives. They were intentional about visiting their family and friends.
Anita would often say that Bob always took such good care of her and their daughters. She has saved all of the sweet love notes that he had written to her. Together they had something special that transcended into over 50 years of surviving and encouraging each other, thus setting an example for those around them. Anita was proud to be his wife and she loved him dearly. They made the best of what they had, appreciated one another, and told of their gratefulness and thankfulness for what they had been blessed with.
‘Always do your best’ or ‘always do the best that you can’ were words that Anita often said with a smile. She went about doing good things and saying good things, so that is what those fortunate enough to be around saw as a living example of love in action. Whether she was cleaning house, folding laundry, cooking, going to work, preparing food for others, driving the girls to school and all of their activities, helping to raise grandkids, visiting with friends, tending to the yard…whatever she did she did with love and great integrity. She was dependable, loyal and committed. ‘Do everything as if you are doing it for the Lord’ was how she measured her work ethic. Don’t do things to please men, instead work as if you are doing this for the Lord.’
All of Anita and Bob’s grandchildren were able to spend time with them; growing up running in and out of their house, and enjoying their time together. They all have great memories and great stories of the time they each got to spend at LaLa and Daddy Bob’s house. The great-grandchildren have been around LaLa in these later years and have doted on her, brushed her hair, helped her with daily chores, and have learned to serve in the sweetest of ways. What a blessing LaLa has been to all of them. They have all heard about how much Jesus and LaLa loves them. They all know it to be true.
In her later years, she acquired a little white Maltese, named Daisy Mae. Neighbors have watched for years as she would walk miles and miles in her neighborhood, and often times, out of her neighborhood. Living in a small town has proved to be invaluable as our community has all been aware of looking out for one another and manifesting the phrase “it takes a village’. So much love and concern has been shown for Anita for many years by our community.
This is such a short moment in time to stop and honor someone that we love so dearly. There is so much that should be said about LaLa that would encourage others to turn to Jesus, to trust Him, to follow Him, to surrender to Him so they, too, would have the peace, love, joy and abundant life that she had. Not wealthy in material things, but in things of eternal value. As Pastor Tim has been known to say, ‘Point others to Jesus’. Anita did that completely and lovingly through not just words of affirmation, but by her actions. What she had accepted in her heart long ago began to be manifested in her life more and more, year after passing year. Anita’s discernment was a gift. She could see the potential you had in your future and didn’t judge based on your past or your mistakes. She could make you feel accepted and genuinely cared about.
Anita was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bob Thompson (March 29,2012), her parents Maurice and Ruth (Roberts) Reed, and grandson, Cody Scott Crockett. She is survived by daughter Nancy and husband, Curtis Simpson, of Childress; Kristie and husband, Brock Crockett, of McLean; granddaughter Meredith Simpson Ochoa, of Childress; grandson Seth Simpson, of Bozeman, Montana; grandson Clay Crockett and wife, Kaitlyn, of McLean; granddaughter Callie and husband, Zane Davis, of the Baca Ranch, House, New Mexico; grandson Ben Crockett, of McLean; great-grandchildren Saylee, Luke, Berklee of Childress and Kash, Kayzlee and Caxton of McLean.
Anita’s four younger brothers are: Bill Reed of Wichita Falls, Carter (Pepper) Reed and wife, Anne of Breckenridge, Joe Reed and wife, Brenda of Pfluegerville, and Jeff Reed and wife, Angela, of Frisco. Bob’s siblings, who are also family, are Tuffy Thompson and Judy Thompson of Happy, Fred Thompson of Stinnett, Pearl (Sis) Thompson Williams of Stinnett, and Marshall Thompson and his wife, Karen, of Edmond, Oklahoma. There are many nieces, nephews, extended family and special friends.
Anita was particularly patient, careful and loving to children, so she would want to blow kisses to all of her ‘Avenue J’ neighborhood. A big ‘Thank You’ to her wonderful caregivers from 2008 until just recently; they came into her home and cared for her at Cottage Village. Blessings to Anita’s Sunday School class at FBC for always welcoming her and taking her in, to Beverly and Kerry Wood for delivering wonderful food and encouragement for so many years, and to her very special friend Isaiah Foster for always being so kind and caring to her. Thank you, Marcus Vela, for all of the kind things that you have done for Anita (and Bob) over the past 14 years. There are many others, too numerous to mention, because there are still good people in this world. These acts of kindness were gifts to her and to her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Childress First Baptist Church, CHAMPS Children’s Ministry and the McLean Methodist Church, Angel Program.
Anita made a decision long ago to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and because of this decision, she received our Heavenly Father’s love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace and then she willingly poured those Heavenly attributes into those around her. Anita was a devoted wife, Mother, sister, friend, aunt, Mother-in-law, and the best LaLa ever. She exemplified Philippians 2, always putting others before herself and being aware of other’s needs. Anita had a commitment to her faith that sustained her for a lifetime. She grew into being the wife, Mother and godly woman that Proverb 31 describes. This legacy is a gift to those that she leaves behind.
Anita was born September 8, 1938, to Maurice and Ruth Irene (Roberts) Reed. She was their oldest child and also big sister to her four younger brothers. She attended schools in Amarillo, Dallas, and Childress. Anita was a member of the Childress Class of 1957. While in high school, she also worked in Bertha Nave’s dress shop in downtown Childress. She enjoyed the friendships of classmates and later would look forward to their class reunions.
Anita met her cowboy sweetheart, Bob Thompson, while working in the courthouse here in Childress in the County Extension Agent’s office. Bob pretended to be looking for the driver’s license office and peeked in, took off his hat and asked her if she could help him. J.T. and Faye Perkins had told him where she worked and that he should go up and introduce himself. Anita would often tell of their first meeting, in the Fall of 1959, and how handsome Bob looked. His first impression made a lasting impression. Bob, in turn, would describe how beautiful Anita was and how she made his heart flutter. Bob and Anita then got married the next Spring, on March 18, 1960. They eloped to Clovis, New Mexico, on their way to one of Bob’s ropings. They came home to a reception hosted by friends and family. Anita kept her bridal book, registry and other keepsakes. She was the best at journaling daily from the time they married until she was no longer able to record daily happenings. She wrote detailed accounts of prayer needs, Bob’s ranchwork, shipping and brandings, their daughters’ activities, baptisms, deaths, weddings, her family and Bob’s family visits, the weather and much more. Nancy and Kristie have over 50 year’s worth of their Mother’s handwritten memories.
Bob and Anita enjoyed their married life, while Bob made a living being a cowboy, Anita always made their house a home. They had the privilege of living on several big ranches during their lifetime. Anita always kept a beautiful home, as if it were her own, and she was an exceptional cook. If you ever got to eat at their table, it definitely made you want to come back, especially after eating her fried chicken and her chocolate cake. In her later years, she enjoyed baking blueberry muffins everyday. Her grandkids all have great memories of her baking. Hospitality was an obvious gift.
Anita made great friends along life’s way, and each one was such a blessing to her and she was a blessing to them. Church was always important, Bible stories were read, and prayers were said. Anita taught Sunday School, always helped with VBS, enjoyed being a “room mother” for her girls, and was such a good hostess because she loved serving others. She worked at the Cottle County courthouse in the driver’s license office when she and Bob first married. They first lived in the Norris Apartments in town. Anita was always a homemaker and housewife, but during some of their marriage she enjoyed working outside their home. She worked at the ASCS office in Paducah (Rob Hicks). Working in retail at Charlotte’s Boutique (Charlotte Hefley) and Beverly”s Closet (Beverly Wood) were two great experiences for her.
Traveling is something that she and Bob enjoyed together from the time they started dating, often going to ropings wherever Bob was entered. Anita was the best timekeeper and bookkeeper. Together they made wonderful friends. They made time to go and visit their friends, and always had encouraging words for those they stopped in to see. They both appreciated the good people that were placed in their lives. They were intentional about visiting their family and friends.
Anita would often say that Bob always took such good care of her and their daughters. She has saved all of the sweet love notes that he had written to her. Together they had something special that transcended into over 50 years of surviving and encouraging each other, thus setting an example for those around them. Anita was proud to be his wife and she loved him dearly. They made the best of what they had, appreciated one another, and told of their gratefulness and thankfulness for what they had been blessed with.
‘Always do your best’ or ‘always do the best that you can’ were words that Anita often said with a smile. She went about doing good things and saying good things, so that is what those fortunate enough to be around saw as a living example of love in action. Whether she was cleaning house, folding laundry, cooking, going to work, preparing food for others, driving the girls to school and all of their activities, helping to raise grandkids, visiting with friends, tending to the yard…whatever she did she did with love and great integrity. She was dependable, loyal and committed. ‘Do everything as if you are doing it for the Lord’ was how she measured her work ethic. Don’t do things to please men, instead work as if you are doing this for the Lord.’
All of Anita and Bob’s grandchildren were able to spend time with them; growing up running in and out of their house, and enjoying their time together. They all have great memories and great stories of the time they each got to spend at LaLa and Daddy Bob’s house. The great-grandchildren have been around LaLa in these later years and have doted on her, brushed her hair, helped her with daily chores, and have learned to serve in the sweetest of ways. What a blessing LaLa has been to all of them. They have all heard about how much Jesus and LaLa loves them. They all know it to be true.
In her later years, she acquired a little white Maltese, named Daisy Mae. Neighbors have watched for years as she would walk miles and miles in her neighborhood, and often times, out of her neighborhood. Living in a small town has proved to be invaluable as our community has all been aware of looking out for one another and manifesting the phrase “it takes a village’. So much love and concern has been shown for Anita for many years by our community.
This is such a short moment in time to stop and honor someone that we love so dearly. There is so much that should be said about LaLa that would encourage others to turn to Jesus, to trust Him, to follow Him, to surrender to Him so they, too, would have the peace, love, joy and abundant life that she had. Not wealthy in material things, but in things of eternal value. As Pastor Tim has been known to say, ‘Point others to Jesus’. Anita did that completely and lovingly through not just words of affirmation, but by her actions. What she had accepted in her heart long ago began to be manifested in her life more and more, year after passing year. Anita’s discernment was a gift. She could see the potential you had in your future and didn’t judge based on your past or your mistakes. She could make you feel accepted and genuinely cared about.
Anita was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Bob Thompson (March 29,2012), her parents Maurice and Ruth (Roberts) Reed, and grandson, Cody Scott Crockett. She is survived by daughter Nancy and husband, Curtis Simpson, of Childress; Kristie and husband, Brock Crockett, of McLean; granddaughter Meredith Simpson Ochoa, of Childress; grandson Seth Simpson, of Bozeman, Montana; grandson Clay Crockett and wife, Kaitlyn, of McLean; granddaughter Callie and husband, Zane Davis, of the Baca Ranch, House, New Mexico; grandson Ben Crockett, of McLean; great-grandchildren Saylee, Luke, Berklee of Childress and Kash, Kayzlee and Caxton of McLean.
Anita’s four younger brothers are: Bill Reed of Wichita Falls, Carter (Pepper) Reed and wife, Anne of Breckenridge, Joe Reed and wife, Brenda of Pfluegerville, and Jeff Reed and wife, Angela, of Frisco. Bob’s siblings, who are also family, are Tuffy Thompson and Judy Thompson of Happy, Fred Thompson of Stinnett, Pearl (Sis) Thompson Williams of Stinnett, and Marshall Thompson and his wife, Karen, of Edmond, Oklahoma. There are many nieces, nephews, extended family and special friends.
Anita was particularly patient, careful and loving to children, so she would want to blow kisses to all of her ‘Avenue J’ neighborhood. A big ‘Thank You’ to her wonderful caregivers from 2008 until just recently; they came into her home and cared for her at Cottage Village. Blessings to Anita’s Sunday School class at FBC for always welcoming her and taking her in, to Beverly and Kerry Wood for delivering wonderful food and encouragement for so many years, and to her very special friend Isaiah Foster for always being so kind and caring to her. Thank you, Marcus Vela, for all of the kind things that you have done for Anita (and Bob) over the past 14 years. There are many others, too numerous to mention, because there are still good people in this world. These acts of kindness were gifts to her and to her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Childress First Baptist Church, CHAMPS Children’s Ministry and the McLean Methodist Church, Angel Program.