Marinelle "Mari" Willis Thompson

Marinelle (Mari) Willis Thompson: Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Texan, and Second Amendment crusader passed away July 22, 2016 after a long illness. She was at home surrounded by family that loved her dearly.

Born on December 4, 1936 in Smithville, Texas to Horace Earl Willis and Virginia Canada Willis, Mari was known for her sparkling blue eyes, curly red hair, and a natural penchant for "speaking her mind" - all of which she never lost. She grew up in Beaumont, Texas but also spent many idyllic summers in Smithville with her maternal grandparents and extended family. She always thought of Smithville as a second hometown.

Mari graduated from French High School in Beaumont in 1955 and became the first female in her family to graduate from college when she earned a degree in nursing from Saint Mary's College in Galveston in 1959.

In 1960, ready to see the world, Mari left Texas for the first time, and took her very first plane ride as well, for a nursing job in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shortly after arriving, her roommates convinced her to accompany them to Washington, D.C. where they had arranged a blind date for her with a handsome airman from Oklahoma stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. His name was Paul Thompson and needless to say that date went very well and it was not long before they knew it was a true match.

Paul and Mari wed on November 4, 1961 in Beaumont and returned to Washington D.C. where they began their lives together. After Paul was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1963, and with one young son in tow and a daughter on the way, they moved to Norman, Oklahoma so Paul could attend the University of Oklahoma. In addition to going to school, Paul juggled a variety of odd jobs while Mari worked as a nurse at the campus infirmary and local hospital while looking after the children. Somehow they pulled it off and Paul graduated in 1966 and began his career in the oil industry in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The remainder of the 1960s saw the Thompson family moving around the "oil patch" from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Williston, North Dakota and then to Denver, Colorado before eventually winding up in Dallas, Texas in 1971. By then the family had grown to include five children. They settled in the Canyon Creek area of Dallas and Mari retired from nursing and put her full-time efforts into raising her kids. It was in Dallas that they truly put down roots and established a multitude of lifelong friendships.

In addition to being the devoted, loving, and very busy wife and mother, Mari developed new hobbies later in her life including becoming fluent in German. She enjoyed watercolor painting and traveling Europe where she again cultivated numerous lasting friendships with people she met there. She loved talking and laughing over sweet tea or a Coke with her many friends. Mari loved storytelling believing, like Mark Twain, that the facts shouldn't always get in the way of a really good yarn.

In 2001 Paul and Mari built their dream home outside of Austin in Lakeway, Texas on a bluff with a gorgeous view of Lake Travis. She loved sitting on her porch enjoying a Hill Country sunset most every night, often taking pictures and emailing them to her kids. Instead of slowing down in Austin, she became a vocal and passionate leader and supporter of the Second Amendment. She co-founded an organization called Second Amendment Sisters that helped empower women to take control of their personal safety. Eventually S.A.S. grew to a worldwide membership. Mari became a vocal political activist and traveled to Washington D.C. frequently to meet with our representatives to ensure our constitutional rights would continue to be safe for future generations. Her exploits as a gun-toting, wise cracking Grandma from Texas even became the subject of a popular documentary…IN NORWAY! People may have disagreed with her point of view, but nobody ever regretted having a conversation with her.

Feisty up until the end, Mari, whose user name was "Basil," made a last post on her favorite website "FREE REPUBLIC" on January 1, 2016, only hours before a debilitating stroke silenced her wonderfully opinionated, hilariously outrageous voice for the duration of her life.

Mari and Paul were married happily for nearly 55 years and she was the adored mother to her children, Paul M. Thompson Jr. and his wife Stacye; Mary Thompson; Carl Thompson; Cynthia and her husband Scott MacAdam; and Linda Thompson. She treasured her 11 grandchildren, Caufman Talley III, Channing Thompson, William Fisher, Mollie Thompson, Paul Michael Thompson III (Trey), Derrian Thompson, Avery Thompson, Adrian Colon, Lily MacAdam, Aidan MacAdam and Neil MacAdam. She also cherished her brothers, Horace Earl Willis and his wife Lois and David Willis and his wife Sheila, and her 15 nieces and nephews. Her two faithful Labradoodles Ginger and Sophie also survive her.

Mari was preceded in death by her parents Horace Earl and Virginia Canada Willis, her baby sister Dorothy June Willis, her grandparents Edward and Mary Belle Canada and Elijah David and Mary Cordelia Willis, and her beloved Aunt, Lyle Canada Renfro.

The family would especially like to thank Brandon Ewing for his kind and caring support these past few months. They would also like to thank Mari's caregivers and especially Jamie Wilkerson and hospice nurse Randy Eversdyk for their hard work and dedication to making her final days peaceful and comfortable.

A Gathering of family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis, 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 20600 Siesta Shores, Spicewood, TX. Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Smithville, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to a church or non-profit of your choice.