Grace E. Thompson

SOUTH PORTLAND - Grace E. Thompson, 94, formerly of Keeseville, New York, and The Betsy Ross House in South Portland, died peacefully September 2, 2011, at the South Portland Nursing Home with members of her loving family by her side. Grace was born on April 2, 1917 in Ausable Forks, NY the daughter of Charles and Anna Jones Clark. She attended local schools there and graduated from Ausable Fork High School in the class of 1935. On July 7, 1941 she married John R. Thompson. Following World War II she and John settled in Keeseville, NY where they raised their family. Grace was active with the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was an active member of the Keeseville United Methodist Church where she participated in the choir and the thrift shop, she also was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Loved by her many close friends and extended family, together they enjoyed boat rides on Lake Champlain, their home in Trembleau Park on Lake Champlain, snowmobiling, gardening, needlework, reading and crossword puzzles. After John's retirement, together, they enjoyed traveling visiting forty nine states. Grace's family described her as beloved, sincere, hardworking, supportive, loving and a person who was always willing to give and receive hugs and kisses. Grace was predeceased by her husband John in 2005, two brothers Earl and Gordon Clark, three sisters Augusta, Mabel and Ethel and a granddaughter Elizabeth Anne Stretchberry. She is survived by a son Michael and his wife Nancy Thompson of Keeseville, NY, three daughters Patricia and her husband James Stretchberry of Santa Barbara, CA, Julia and her husband William Berman of South Portland, Amy and her husband Joseph LoBiondo of Albion, ME, five grandchildren Jeffrey and his wife Lisa Berman of Seattle, WA, Laurie and her husband Owen Young of Austin, TX, Sarah Stretchberry of Los Angeles, CA, Hannah Stretchberry of Santa Barbara, CA, Rachel LoBiondo of Albion, ME, one great grandson Oliver Young of Austin, TX, a sister in law Catherine Thompson of Maryland; and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, September 24, 2011, at the United Methodist Church, 1699 Front Street, Keeseville, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME. Those who wish may make contributions in Grace's memory to Shriners Children's Hospital for Crippled Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Online Condolences for Grace Thompson