Obituaries

Evelyn Kehs Thompson

Photo of Evelyn Kehs Thompson
Evelyn Kehs Thompson died August 11, 2015. She was born October 10, 1921 in Baltimore, Md. to Winfield and Elizabeth Contee Kehs. She graduated from Easter High School in Baltimore in 1939. She completed, with honors, Office Training and Secretarial Courses at Strayer College in Baltimore in 1941. Evelyn met Dr. Samuel Berry Thompson in 1947 while he was doing fellowship at Kernan Children's Hospital in Baltimore. They were married in 1948 and moved to Little Rock where Sam started his orthopedic practice. They were married for 40 years until Sam's sudden death in 1988. Evelyn's devotion to her husband and sons was surpassed only by her devotion to the Lord. She was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock beginning in 1948. She and a good friend, Katherine Puddephatt started and taught the special needs Sunday School class at Immanuel for over 25 years. She was also a volunteer in the Immanuel library for 25 years. When her three sons were young, she was active in the PTA at their schools and was a Cub Scout leader for each of them. When all three boys were playing Little League baseball during the summer she was known to carry a kitchen timer with her to their practices and games so she wouldn't forget to drop off or pick one up. She was also a VIP (Volunteer in Public Schools) for 12 years at Hall High School. Evelyn was a sustaining member of the 20th Century Club and was chairman of the 20th Century Club annual Charity ball (along with her best friend Helen Baxley) in 1966. Her other memberships included the Quapaw Questers Antique Club, Leawood Garden Club, Murray's Theater Dinner Group and Rug Group Sewing Club in which each member, by hand, made their own beautifully detailed authentically patterned "Persian" rug. Her first rug took over two years to complete and her second is not quite done after over 20 years. In addition to her husband Sam and her parent's, Evelyn is preceded in death by her five brothers, Robert, Gordon, Winny, Mickey and Donald. She is survived by her three sons, Dr. Berry Thompson (Diana) and Ron Thompson all of Little Rock, Ark. and Dr. Alan Thompson (Mary) of Farmington, Ark.; six grandchildren: Sam Thompson (Autumn) of Goose Creek, S.C., Dr. Benjamin Thompson (Yoanna) of State College, Pa., Dr. Julia Thompson of Kansas City, Mo., Joshua Thompson of Farmington, Ark., Michael Thompson (Ginny) and Meghan Thompson Pittman (Alan) all of Little Rock, Ark. and eight great-grandchildren. Evelyn Thompson was a dearly loved and wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. Funeral services will be 11:00am Friday, August 21, 2015 in the Chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church with Reverend Rick Jaggars officiating. A visitation will start one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Published August 19, 2015

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