Kenneth Eugene Thompson Sr.

Kenneth Eugene "Gene" Thompson Sr., 85, passed away peacefully at Methodist Hospital on Saturday, November 22, 2014. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, November 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Roller Funeral Home and graveside services at Crittenden Memorial Park on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 11 a.m. He was born January 18, 1929 in Parkin, Arkansas the son of Guy Eula and C.P. Thompson. Because his older brother was in the navy during WWII and his father was ill, he managed the family farm and graduated at 16 from Parkin High School. This began a lifelong love of farming. What began as 150 acres of rented land that he farmed with two teams of mules and a plow turned into a 40,000 acre farming operation. He saw many technological advances in his years of farming. He bought one of the first one-row cotton pickers, a combine that was pulled behind a tractor, and taught himself to precision level land. He and his family were named as both the Cross County and State Farm Family of the Year in 1978. He served on the Farm Bureau Board, the Riceland Foods Board and as President of the Rural Water Association. He was a tournament checker player and an avid sports fan. He played American Amateur baseball and coached Little League Baseball. He was an active member of the Parkin community and served on the Parkin School Board and was a Mason. He was a member of Parkin First United Methodist. His survivors include his wife of 64 years, Faye Thompson, a son, Kenn E Thompson and his wife Jane from Wynne, his daughter, Dr. Deborah Ferguson, who is the State Representative for District 51 and her husband Dr. Scott Ferguson from West Memphis. He had five adored grandchildren, Dr. Catherine Ferguson, Scott Ferguson and his wife Juliana, and Caroline Ferguson, and Kent Thompson and his wife Katie, and Mary Elizabeth Thompson and one great-grandson, Sam Thompson. He is also survived by seven of his nine brothers and sisters. In lieu of flowers please make contribution in memory of Gene Thompson to Parkin First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 291, Parkin, Ark. 72373. On-line guestbook at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.