Hazel McLean Thompson

Much loved mother and grandmother, Hazel died on September 26, 2017. She was born in Millinocket, Maine, on April 5, 1915. Her father had immigrated from Scotland in 1906. She was born into a fast changing world. Cars still shared the road with the horse and buggy. Lindbergh hadn’t yet flown the first airplane across the Atlantic. She first saw a lightbulb at age five. Her introduction to radio was a crystal set with earphones. She squealed with delight to hear her first broadcast. She learned to read at the silent movies; “talkies” hadn’t been invented yet.

Hazel was born with perfect pitch. She learned to play the piano at a young age and accompanied her father, when he sang his Scottish songs around town. As a teenager, she was taught the organ and began playing for church, a service she provided for fifty years of her life.

In 1934, she married Howard Thompson, the 22-year-old manager of the J.J. Newberry store. They had three children: Merrilee Foley, George (Mickey), and David Thompson.

Howard’s health forced a move in 1940 to the drier climate of Visalia, CA. During WWII, she played the organ at weddings for many servicemen heading overseas.

Howard’s work next took the family to Idaho Falls in 1950, and to Spokane in 1954. Hazel continued to play the piano and organ and accompanied many soloists and choirs. Howard died at age 92 in 2004.

She was grandmother to: Lauri Bracken, Tami & Tom Thompson, Steve and Jenny Thompson, Randy, Jim, and Ken Robinson, and Julie Nehls. Her great-grandchildren are: Alex, Nick, Jessica, Shelby, Lauren, Clayton, Samantha, Jacob, Nathan, Dominick, Rhys, Kathleen, and Kora. She is also survived by two siblings, Jean Barrick of CA and Larry McLean of FL.

Arrangements under the direction of Ball & Dodd Funeral Home, Spokane, WA.