Mary Ellen Thompson

Mary Ellen "Polly" Thompson, 97, of North Little Rock, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2017. She was born to Adolphus and Emma Carlisle on January 27, 1920 in East Point, Louisiana and moved to Little Rock with the advent of the 1927 flood. A 1936 graduate of Little Rock High School, she attended Little Rock Junior College while employed at Bell Telephone Company. Polly met her late husband, Reed W. Thompson Sr., on a blind date, and they married in 1940. During the early years of their marriage, Mr. Thompson, an attorney, was with the FBI, and the couple lived in numerous places throughout the South, returning to Little Rock in 1946. A devoted wife and homemaker, she was always supportive of her husband, albeit reluctantly so during his forays into North Little Rock politics. Federal service again called, requiring Polly to continue her homemaking skills in Bangkok, Saigon, Manila, and Washington DC. Decorating her home was a passion in her later years, and she took full advantage of her neighbor, Tom Chandler, who lived across the street. Polly lived independently until the age of 95 and then moved to Fox Ridge assisted living. She was a former president of the North Little Rock Junior Auxiliary and a member of First United Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Reed W. Thompson Sr.; brother, Dr. Jack Carlisle of Shreveport, La.; daughters-in-law, Charma Thompson and Nancy Thompson; and her parents. She is survived by her son, Reed Thompson Jr.; grandchildren, Angela Jones, Reed Thompson III; Matthew Thompson, and Ryan Thompson; and four great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Jones, Drew Jones, Emma Thompson, and Jesse Thompson. A private graveside service will be held at Rest Hills Memorial Park on Thursday, August 10, 2017. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 6701 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock, Ark. 72116. An online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.