Mary E. Thompson

PLATTEVILLE - Mary Elizabeth Thompson, age 93, of Dubuque, IA, formerly of Platteville, WI, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, August 9,2024, at Hawkeye Care Center in Dubuque, IA.

Mary, born on October 28,1930 in Houston, MO, was the fifth child of ten to Jay and Matoe (Lilly) Gibson. Mary spent her childhood on the family farm and graduated from high school in 1948. As a young adult, she worked as a salesclerk in Fort Leonard Wood. On New Years Eve 1950 she met Bruce Thompson, of Platteville, WI on a blind date, while he was in Missouri on a survey crew. The were married on September 15,1951 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Platteville. They welcomed their only child Cheree Rose in 1955. Sadly, their union was cut short when Bruce passed away August 7,1962 after a long battle with stomach cancer.

Always a hard worker, Mary went on as a single working mother, employed for several years at Kreb’s Drug Store until it was sold. She then worked as manager of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Bookstore. It was here she met Scott Jameson, with whom she shared a brief second marriage until they parted ways. Mary then enjoyed many years in sales and bookkeeping at K&K Floors in Platteville until she retired. 

She was a long-time member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, and in her later years frequented the Platteville Senior Center for meals and activities. 

In 2014 she moved to Dubuque to be closer to her daughter when she started showing signs of memory loss. She was later diagnosed with dementia and spent the remainder of her years at Hawkeye Care Center.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Cheree (Bob) Morey of Dubuque, IA; three stepchildren, including Rob (Lori) Jameson, of Plato, TX; granddaughter, Sarah (Mike) Woodward of Council Bluffs, IA; grandsons: Matt Morey and Jamie Morey of Dubuque; five great-grandchildren; two great-great grandsons; many nieces and nephews; and one sister, Sue Effie of Kansas City, MO.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bruce; five brothers: Walter, Gene, Robert, Kenneth and Keith, and three sisters: Lucille, Dorothy, and Mildred.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Platteville with Father Gregory Ihm officiating. The burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Platteville. Family and friends may call on Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church, where a 10:45 a.m. parish rosary will be prayed. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials can be made in Mary’s memory to the Platteville Senior Center, 75 N. Bonson St, Platteville, WI 53818. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Platteville is serving the family.