of Parkin, AR

September 11, 1930 - September 27, 2023

Faye Martin Thompson, 93, passed away peacefully at Baptist Hospital on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Graveside services will be held at Crittenden Memorial Park on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11 a.m.

She was born September 11, 1930 in Lepanto, Arkansas, the daughter of Bessie Martin and William Martin. The family moved from Lepanto to Harrisburg after their house was blown away in a tornado. There, she attended a one room schoolhouse through eighth grade before moving to live with another family to attend Harrisburg High School, where she earned her diploma in 1950 after secretly eloping with the love of her life, Gene Thompson, in March of that year. At the time, married girls weren't allowed to continue their schooling, but she was determined to graduate. He was already farming and she immediately took over the business side of the farming operation. She had a knack for it. The couple started off farming a few acres of leased land with a team of mules and would eventually farm over 40,000 acres in Arkansas. At a time in American history when women weren't allowed to be the face of the farm, she was the backbone of it, all while raising two children-Deborah, born in 1953 and Kenneth ''Kenn E.'' Eugene, born in 1958. She was a dedicated and loving mother. Her children fondly remember skiing and fishing in the St. Francis River, her fiercely defending them from water moccasins. She and her family were named as both the Cross County and State Farm Family of the Year in 1978.

She was also an active and energetic grandmother and great-grandmother, a full-fledged member of her children's households until her death. Earlier this year, she continued her decades-long tradition of dressing as the Easter bunny, one of many costumes she made as an unusually accomplished and creative seamstress, to the delight of her entire family. She used this talent in service of those most in need, sewing Halloween costumes for premature babies at LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

She was a lifelong member of Parkin First United Methodist Church, where she served for decades as bookkeeper, Christmas decorator and organizer of hundreds of fellowship dinners. She always found joy in feeding her loved ones and her community, preparing countless Farm Bureau banquets, Wynne Chamber of Commerce banquets and each year cooking over seventy trays of her famous Thanksgiving dressing for local families. She also compiled and edited a community cookbook, "Mounds of Cooking", in support of the Parkin Archaeological State Park, which includes many of her own recipes. In the winter of her life, rather than disengaging from this passion, she immortalized her beloved recipes in a YouTube channel, "Southern Cooking" with Faye Thompson, with her son, Kenn E as videographer.

She is survived by many who loved and will miss her, including her son, Kenn E. Thompson and his wife, Jane Thompson from Wynne and her daughter, Deborah Ferguson and her husband, Scott Ferguson from West Memphis. She had five adored grandchildren, Catherine Ferguson and her husband, Murtaza Mogri, Scott Ferguson and his wife, Juliana Echeverri Escobar, Caroline Ferguson Irlanda and her husband, Ryan Irlanda, Kent Thompson and his wife, Katie Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Thompson; three great-grandsons, Sam Thompson, Charlie Thompson, Thomas Ferguson and one great-granddaughter, Mary Catherine Mogri. She is also survived by her sister, Veletta Martin.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in memory of Faye Thompson to LeBonheur Children's Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 41817, Memphis, TN 38174-1817.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home
201 North Pine Street
West Memphis, AR  72303
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com