Kathryn Rose Wells Thompson, lovingly called Kate or Katie by family and friends, was born on January 4, 1921, in Independence, Kansas. She passed away on December 10, 2020 in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Katie was born to Harland and Mary Wells. She was raised and attended school in Independence, Kansas.
On May 10, 1939, Katie married Clarence Jewell Thompson, better known as Tommy or Toots, in Smith Center, Kansas. Katie and Tommy moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee in 1942 for his work with the Atomic Energy Commission. The couple moved back to Coffeyville and opened The Roller Dome Skating Rink on June 6, 1946 with his brother Don Thompson and wife Freda.
In 1948, they opened Thompson Brothers Welding Supply in the front of the Roller Dome. During the day they sold welding supplies and at night they ran the skating rink. Tommy tragically passed away in 1978 at the age of 63, and the business was passed down to Katie and Tommy’s four children. Katie remained active in the family welding business and was able to attend the business’s milestone anniversary in 2018 celebrating 70 years.
Katie was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, and Daughters of the Nile. She was a Cub Scout Leader, and a volunteer for the VFW Auxiliary 1002.
Katie was an avid card player, she enjoyed playing Bridge with a group of local women and couples Bridge as well; she especially enjoyed several trips to Las Vegas over the years, one in particular with all of her daughters and granddaughters in 2005. In Vegas, you’d always be sure to find her winning hands at Blackjack.
Dancing was a favorite pastime of Katie. She was a member of the Square Dance Club and most Saturday nights you could find Katie and Tommy at the Shrine Barn, burning up the dance floor. They were both social butterflies and enjoyed being amongst friends and family as often as possible.
In the summer months, Katie and Tommy spent time at their cabin on Havana Lake. In her younger years, she enjoyed water skiing. She continued to enjoy time spent at the family cabin watching her children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren learn to waterski and play in the water.
Katie enjoyed traveling and spent time trekking all around the globe—some of her favorite memories included her trips to Mexico, Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Egypt, Greece, Canada, and China, and not to mention her travels across the United States.
If you had ever met Katie, you would know that she was a force to be reckoned with; she called everyone “kid,” and she was always dressed impeccably—a fashionista who loved jewelry, clothes, and shopping and always had her hair and makeup perfectly done. In recent years, she always looked forward to Saturday morning visits with her sons, who would always bring her donuts and iced coffee.
Katie was preceded in death by her parents, Harland and Mary, six brothers Andrew, David, Laurie, George, and twin brothers Jim and John, two sisters Elizabeth and Martha, and by her loving husband, Clarence “Tommy” Thompson.
Katie is survived by her three sons, Tommy R. Thompson and wife Linda Hargrove of Coffeyville, Ricky L. Thompson and wife Cathy Clark of Coffeyville, Nicky K. Thompson and wife Debra Yeubanks of Coffeyville, and one daughter Sondra K. Thompson McGuire and husband James McGuire of Dallas, Texas. She is survived by her nine grandchildren Randy (Gina) Thompson, Todd Thompson, Trace McGuire, Gigi McGuire, Ryan (Julie) Thompson, Jessica (Bob) Jacobs, Lisa (Benjamin) Scheck, Kristina Thompson, and Cody Thompson. She is also survived by her eleven great grandchildren Zach Thompson, Rain Casurole, Emma Thompson, Bennett Thompson, Tyler Thompson, Andrew Jacobs, Lillian Jacobs, Ivy Jacobs, Nora Scheck, Samuel Scheck, and Vivienne Scheck.
In lieu of the pandemic, a private family service will be held at The First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville. Funeral services will be performed by the David W. Barnes Funeral Home.
In memory of Kathryn “Katie” Thompson, memorials may be made to The Thompson Family Scholarship at the Coffeyville Area Community Foundation or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed in care of David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.
