Jewell I Thompson

Jewell Iown Thornton Thompson was born in Ennis, Texas on June 3, 1926. Jewell was the youngest of nine children born to Nancy Jane Berry Thornton and Oley Alonzo Thornton. There were three girls and six boys, but three of the nine children died either during infancy or before they were two years old. The oldest child, Ruby Thornton Wood (born in 1903), was Jewell’s only surviving sister, with four brothers who survived childhood in between the two girls. When Nancy Jane was pregnant with Jewell, Ruby was already 23 years old and married…and she was pregnant, as well. Ruby gave birth to her baby girl, Dorothy, just a few months before Ruby’s baby sister, Jewell, was born. The two girls (‘Aunt’ Jewell and ‘Niece’ Dorothy) grew up together…like sisters…they were very close and were best friends throughout much of their lives. Jewell was the last child born to Nancy Jane and Oley…and she is now also the last of their children to pass away. However, that special niece, Dorothy, who is now 89 years old, lives in New Mexico and remains close with Jewell’s family, continually sharing the girls’ childhood stories and her memories of life with Jewell with Jewell’s family.

As was the case for many good folks during the 1930s, times were hard for the Thornton family in Ennis, Texas. Oley and Nancy Jane worked hard to provide for their family and, eventually, all of the children helped out, as well. Jewell was smart and loved school but, unfortunately, life circumstances demanded that Jewell leave school after the fourth grade to help support the family by heading into the fields every day to pick cotton. She was never able to return to school which was a great disappointment for her, but she loved to read and she continued to self-educate herself through avid reading until just a few years before she passed away.

In the early 1940s, the Thorntons made the ‘big move’ from the small town of Ennis to the big town called ‘Big D’ (Dallas) in an effort to make a better life for their family. All of Jewell’s brothers (Earl, Guy, Dayward, and JD) worked hard to establish themselves in the electrical business. Each of them eventually owned their own electrical company until they each passed away many, many years later.

Not to be left out, Jewell…then in her 20s…became a checker/cashier at the A&P Grocery Store on Jefferson Boulevard in Oak Cliff, Texas. It was then 1946…and a young Army Sargent, who had just returned from serving his country during World War II, had gone to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone installer. As ‘lady luck’ would have it, he walked into that A&P on Jefferson Boulevard to install some additional phone lines and, apparently, while he was there tried a few great lines of his own on Jewell. It was love at first sight, and from the day that Carl met Jewell, he vowed to become the kind of man he knew he would have to be to be with Jewell. Having just come back from the service, he had been known to have a few beers or whiskeys…but no more! Jewell made it quite clear she would never date a man who drank…so Carl never took another drink as long as he lived. He also quit smoking! Even though Jewell’s Mom, Nancy Jane, felt strongly that she was ‘much too young’ to marry, Jewell married the love of her life, Carl L. Thompson, on February 28, 1948. Years later, Miss Nancy Jane would apologize to Carl for throwing numerous bricks at his car (even breaking a window or two!) when they drove off after telling her they were, in fact, going to be married.

In December 1950, Jewell’s and Carl’s only child, Donna Louise (named after actress Donna Reed), was born. They wanted more children, but it was not meant to be. So…instead of children…the Thompsons had animals…a lot of animals…all kinds of animals! They had the usual dogs and cats, but they also had ground squirrels, ‘real’ squirrels, birds, fish, lizards (and a skunk at one point!). They even raised a woodpecker from an egg that lived to be 19 years old, as well as all sorts of other birds (owls, scissortails, sparrows, whip-o-wills…you name it)! Their house was like a zoo, and Donna’s friends were always dropping by to see what was ‘new’ at the Thompson house. Donna learned to love all creatures…big and small…the cute and the not quite so cute. When Donna became a permitted Wildlife Rehabilitator over 25 years ago, Jewell and Carl were right there to help her (and Joe!) to care for the hundreds of injured and/or orphaned opossums that they cared for each year.

In 1971, their only grandchild, Shelly, was born. She was the light of their lives. Since Donna was a divorced Mom, Jewell and Carl were always there to help by providing the extra love and care that Shelly needed and deserved. There were camping trips to the mountains, the beach, the caves and state parks…always an adventure of some sort! Years later, after Shelly married and had her own children, Jewell was there for them, as well. Jewell actually lived next door to Shelly, Zachary and Mackenzie Jewell (her namesake) for many years. It brought her great joy to spend time with and care for her great-grandchildren, as she had done for their Mom…and her Mom…

Jewell was a woman of great faith and conviction. When Carl had lung cancer in his early 40s, she was his steadfast nurse and greatest supporter until that battle was won. Carl licked cancer but, unfortunately, even though he had quit smoking years before, he developed emphysema at the young age of 50. Again, Jewell was at his side as his nurse and caregiver…this time for 25 years…until the time of his death at the age of 75 in 1995. Jewell was the love of his life. Until the day he passed…anytime he introduced her to anyone, he would say, “This is my wife, Jewell…and she IS one.” And he meant it…

Jewell was a great friend, as well. She was slightly shy, but never too shy to give anyone and everyone she met that beautiful smile that she had. She was funny, compassionate and caring. Even during her last few years spent at Manorcare Nursing Facility, she made many friends…residents, nurses, aides, and administrators alike. Jewell was proof that you are never too old to make a new best friend…her best friend for the last three years of her life was her precious roommate, Miss Bertha, who at the age of 96 cared for Jewell like a sister. As Jewell’s Alzheimer’s continued to worsen, her friends at Manorcare loved her and her wonderful spirit even more, and they continued to watch over her until her passing.

As we celebrate and honor this beautiful lady’s life, thank you for letting me share with you a little bit more about Jewell than you might have known. She might have had what would be considered by some to be an ‘ordinary’ life…but she really was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, aunt, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

And she was MY extraordinary Mom and my best friend for 64 years…she will, indeed, be missed…