John Darrell Thompson

John is survived by his sisters, Dianna Chenevert and Kathy Lewis; his daughter, Michelle Whittington; two granddaughters; one niece; three nephews; and three great-nephews and three great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otis Leroy Thompson and Mary Juanita Thompson, and his brother, Leroy Deen Thompson.

John’s early life was filled with adventure, growing up in places as diverse as Texas, Colorado, Key West, Florida, a brief stint in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, New Orleans, and the Lake Charles area, where he graduated from Alfred M. Barbe High School in 1978.

John had a legendary mischievous streak that brought laughter to those who knew him best. As a young boy in Colorado, he once captured a couple of snakes, placed them in a box, and innocently invited his mom to “look what I found”—resulting in a memorable (and harmless) scare that became family folklore!

On a sailing adventure in Tortola Harbor aboard a small trimaran with his siblings, when brother Leroy trimmed the sail without warning and accidentally sent sister Kathy overboard, John—mishearing their father’s shouts from shore—thought he heard “push her in” and gleefully obliged. (Actually dad said to “bring her in!”). These stories capture John’s playful spirit and the joy he found in life’s unexpected moments.

In New Orleans, his sister Dianna arranged for John to be an extra and stand-in for Ned Beatty in the film The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid. Ever the opportunist, John noticed the cameraman drawing admiration from the ladies, so he borrowed a camera and posed as a photographer himself. And to this day, it’s a mystery whether it was one of the Quaid brothers or John who took the “Quaid Fences” sign on Tchoupitoulas Street (across from the film set at 500 Valence) as a souvenir.

Later in life, John excelled as a professional truck driver, earning a prestigious gold watch from Chemical Leaman for achieving one million miles of safe driving—a remarkable testament to his skill, dedication, and responsibility on the road. His favorite trucks were Freightliners, and even in his final days at the hospital, his beloved Freightliner jacket remained close by his side.

John was a true character: strong-willed, passionate about old Westerns, war movies, chess, and during a season of his life living aboard his Westerly sailboat in Texas. Life brought its challenges, including personal hardships that made him a complex soul—tough on the outside, deeply feeling on the inside, and often misunderstood. Yet beneath it all was a heart capable of great love. His sister Dianna was with him during his last days and in his final moments, John surrendered his life to Christ, a profound act of faith that reminds us of God’s boundless mercy and grace.

We celebrate a life fairly well lived, full of adventure, humor, achievement, and redemption. Rest in peace, little brother—you are loved, remembered, and forever in our hearts.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~ John 13:34-35

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” ~ Matthew 18:12

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” ~ Matthew 18:21-22