THOMPSON: James L. Thompson, 76, of Silver City, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at Fort Bayard Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 10, at the Church of JesusChrist of Latter-Day Saints in Luna, N.M. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m.,with services at 11. Graveside services will immediately follow at the LunaCemetery.
Mr. Thompson was born Jan. 22, 1938, in Luna. On Sept. 8, 1959, hemarried Marie Shupe in the Mesa, Arizona, Temple. Following their marriage,Mr. Thompson worked for Brown and Root Construction, before he went to workfor Kennecott Copper Corp. in 1960 as a trackman. He later worked as alineman helper and dozer operator before being promoted to haulage shiftforeman in 1966. He was promoted later that year to truck and dozer repairforeman and moved to mining shift foreman in 1972 and to mining foreman inpit operations in 1978. He retired from the Phelps Dodge Mining Company,Chino Mines Company, in 1997.
Mr. Thompson was an avid fisherman and hunter, and spent many hours in the mountains around Luna and on the lakes ofeast-central Arizona. He held numerous callings within the Church of JesusChrist of Latter-Day Saints, served in the Mimbres branch of the church forsix years, and was a member of the Luna congregation. In August 2011, Mr.Thompson was inducted into the eighth class of the Grant County BaseballHall of Fame for his work and coaching in Little League.
He was preceded indeath by his mother, Helen Thompson; father, Patrick Allen Thompson;brother, Lionel Thompson; and sister, Sandra (Thompson) Stapley. He issurvived by his wife of 54 years, Marie Thompson of Silver City; son, DeanThompson, and his wife, Kim, of Silver City; granddaughters, JessicaThompson and her daughter, Peyton Marie, of Silver City, and StephanieThompson and her sons, Alijah James and Cameron Dean, of Silver City;brother, Stanley Thompson, and his wife, Pam, of Luna; sisters, LavonneShelton and her husband, Lacy, of Snowflake, Ariz., Patricia Shupe and herhusband, Bill, of Albuquerque, Myrna Nikolaus and her husband, LaVor, of Luna, and Susan Erb and her husband, Tom, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and numerousnieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Steve Shelton, Tim Shupe, Troy Shupe, Jared Thompson, Trent Thompson, Lance Shupe, Rex Shupe, Johnny Shupe, and David Erb. Honorary Pallbearers will Kevin Shelton, Bridger Fox, Stewart Shupe, Sterling Shupe, Wayne Shupe, Dale Shupe, Scott Stapley, Cullen Stapley, Greg Stapley and Taylor Stapley. Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for Your Family and Friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City. Phone 388-1911. To send condolences, log in to www.brightfuneral.net.