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Anna "Anna Sue" Thompson '78 June 22, 2018 2:52 PM updated: June 22, 2018 2:54 PM

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home obituary
2313 Ave. I
P.O. Box 669
Bay City, Texas 77404
P: (979) 245-4613
F: (979) 244 - 3113
TF: (800) 245 - 4613

Anna Sue "Suzy" Thompson
July 16, 1930 - June 12, 2018

Anna Sue “Suzy” Chapman Thompson, 87, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 12, 2018. She was born in Bay City, Texas to Grady and Wilton Chapman on July 16, 1930. She spent her happy childhood growing up in Garwood, Sealy, Eagle Lake and Bay City, Texas, and often told stories about the happy times she spent as a young child living with her family in her grandparent’s home during the great depression. Suzy sustained life-threatening injuries following a car accident shortly after graduating from Bay City High School in 1947. After a long yet full recovery, she attended one semester of college at Texas Christian University before marrying the love of her life, William “Bill” Arthur Thompson, on March 5, 1949.



Bill and Suzy enjoyed life together both being at home and traveling the world, and raised their two beloved children, Lindsey Arthur Thompson and Beverly Sue Thompson Bradley. Suzy not only served her family well, but she was also dedicated to her community and church, First United Methodist, where she was a member for over fifty years, singing in the Cancel Choir for much of that time. Suzy taught Sunday School classes in junior high, high school and college age departments and served as the church school superintendent for a period of ten years. She was active in Little League, PTA and helped to organize and was a charter member of the Bay City Junior Service League, subsequently serving as its president. As a member of this organization, she volunteered regularly at the Bay City Public Library and Matagorda General Hospital.



After raising their two children, Suzy made the bold decision to follow her dreams and returned to college to resume her education, studying Art Education at Wharton County Junior College. She later went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, followed by her master’s degree from Texas A&M University. Bay City Independent School District recruited Suzy in January 1975 to implement and direct the Community Education program. She held this position as director for 20 years before retiring in 1995 at the age of 65. As Director of Community Education, Suzy brought courses to Bay City that afforded citizens the opportunity to learn new skills for personal growth and development, to enjoy enrichment classes and for many to receive vocational training as well as to earn high school diplomas and college degrees. During this time, she also created an Advisory Council of 30 citizens who represented all facets of the community, and over the years, these Bay City Advisory Councils have been recognized and honored numerous times as “The Outstanding Advisory Councils in Texas.” She also began the Bay City Chapter of Literacy Volunteers of America in addition to a Community Action Reaching Every Students (CARES) program benefitting children in the Bay City schools. Subsequently, Suzy was elected to serve as president of the State of Texas Community Education Association.



However, none of these accolades compared to her greatest joy, her four grandchildren, Emily Thompson, Chapman Thompson, Will Bradley and her namesake, Anna Bradley Ferguson. Her grandchildren enriched her life beyond words and she and Bill poured into them at every opportunity.



Suzy’s personal interests always centered around her home and family. She was a loving and involved wife and mother, the hub of the family wheel. She was an adoring, devoted grandmother, sending letters of encouragement or checking in through phone calls. In addition, Suzy was a cherished friend to many. Her hobbies included creating floral arrangements, gardening, genealogy, birding, cooking and entertaining with family and friends. She and Bill both loved to travel and took many lovely trips over the years to places in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia as well as Central and South America. Her last big trip was to take her four grandchildren to Alaska at the age of 76. Suzy remained active in community organizations as long as she was able including the Bay City Floral Study Luncheon Club, Book Review Club, Cemetery Board of Directors, Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Republic of Texas.



Suzy is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 58 years, Bill Thompson, and her parents, Grady and Wilton Chapman. She is survived by her son, Lindsey Arthur Thompson and Michelle Renee Ottis of Bay City, her daughter and son-in-law, Beverly Thompson Bradley and Douglas Bradley of Bellaire, Texas; her grandchildren, Emily Thompson, Chapman Thompson and wife Becca, Will Bradley and wife Brennin Bradley, and Anna Bradley Ferguson and husband Ben Ferguson; as well as two great grandsons, William Brock Bradley and Benjamin Bradley Ferguson. She is also survived by a sister, Willa Dean Balusek and brother in law, Raymond Balusek of Deer Park, Texas.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 16 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, June 17, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, Bay City. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery. Pallbearers William Douglas Bradley, Chapman Arthur Thompson, Benjamin Grant Ferguson, David Kiser Balusek, Alan Ray Balusek and Mike Wade.


SERVICES

Funeral Service
Sunday, June 17, 2018
2:00 PM

First United Methodist Church
2300 Ave. H
Bay City, TX 77414


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