Julian Thompson

Julian Ray Butch Thompson, longtime resident of Ponca City, passed Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at the Ponca City Medical Center when he decided it was time to be with his Lord and Savior after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 67 years of age.

Butch was born November 12, 1945 at Ponca City, the son of Joseph Ray Thompson and Florence Johnson Thompson. He attended the Ponca City Schools and then studied welding at Northern Oklahoma College. He married his loving wife, Maxine Opal Williams on February 2, 1965 in Winfield, Kansas. He began his life by taking care of his wife by working for the City of Ponca City in different fields before joining the Ponca City fire Department. He and the City got the honor of his service in November of 1967 until he retired as an Assistant Fire Marshall after 28 years of dedicated service. After the year was over Butch decided to go back to work for nine and a half more years for the Traffic Engineering Department of Ponca City.

Butch loved his community and did that by serving his city. His greatest contribution was his love of helping others by being a firefighter. He risked his life for strangers with strength and compassion. Butch, as a Husband, Daddy, Grandpa and Friend will be remembered for his love of life, devotion and laughter. He loved the sound of being call Daddy and Grandpa. His loves were his loving wife, Maxine, children, Joe Ray, Justin Riah, Juli Rayan, Jill Rayan Linda Sue and Bill Taylor, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved to fish, hunt, farm, and watch his children and grandchildren play sports. His love, devotion, strength, courage, kindness, and love will forever be remembered.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine Thompson his children, Joe and wife, Jessica Thompson of Ponca City, Justin Thompson of Ponca City, Julie and husband, Mark Skinner, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jill Thompson and other half, Terry Smith, of Ponca City, Linda and Kenneth Sherrill of Ponca City, and Bill Taylor, of Ponca City. Sisters Hazel Chestnut of Dover, Oklahoma, Beverly Picotte of Tahlahina, Beulah and Ron Sherron of Tahlequah, Thomasine Blueback of Ponca City, Oresa McKnight of Bressie, Oklahoma brothers, Curtis Williams and wife, Eve, of Grand Prairie, Texas, James Williams of Pawnee, Zack Williams and wife, Kathy, of Broken Arrow, Don Patterson of Tonkawa, Tyrone Poore and wife, Donna, of Marland, Don Hamilton and wife, Junie, Mary Pemberton of Ponca City, Sue Cranford and husband, Wayne, of Ponca City, Cindy Womack of Ponca City grandchildren Jodie R. Thompson, Joe Randall Thompson, Haley Slone Smith, Jacob R. Thompson, Jmikel R. Thompson, Jules R. Thompson, Jax R. Thompson, Christopher Thomas, Marcos Thomas, Kalie Thomas, Taylor Blueback great grandchildren, Jake R. Thompson and Austin L. Smith.

He was preceded in death by grandpa Joe and Tina Charles, grandma Joe and Julia Dobbs, mother Florence Johnson Thompson Kelly and father, Joseph Thompson brothers C. Leon Thompson, Tom E. Thompson uncles Ed Johnson, Garland Johnson, mother and fatherinlaw, Parrish and Eunice Williams brothersinlaw Rudoph Williams, Alex Williams, Paige and Ardena Williams and sisterinlaw, Arneva and George Bowhay.

There will a traditional noon feast held at the Brookfield Wesleyan Church, 3rd and Brookfield in Ponca City on Friday, April 19, 2013. If you will be attending the noon feast, please bring your chair. Following the noon feast the funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Pastor Mark Busch will preside over the service, assisted by Chester Garriger and Oliver Littlecook. Burial will follow in the Ponca City I.O.O.F. under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to The Guardians of the Ribbons, P.O. Box 1384, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602. Butch would love that.