Elizabeth Stratton Thompson

Elizabeth Maurice Stratton Thompson of Lake Jackson left this world to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, Nov. 28. She was 94 years old.

A 72-year resident of the Brazosport community, Elizabeth will be remembered as a loving and godly wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother as well as a faithful friend. Throughout her life, she was a wonderful cook, amazing seamstress and gracious hostess and was diligent in the service of others. Elizabeth was known and loved for her wisdom and quick wit. She served faithfully beside her beloved husband in their church and community.

Elizabeth Stratton was born in Denison, Texas, the fourth child of William Robert and Beatrice Stratton. Her two older brothers died in early childhood; Elizabeth and her sister, the late Imogene Stratton Dipprey, were reared by their mother and their stepfather, George Winston McMillan Sr. She also had a younger brother, George Winston McMillan Jr. She described her childhood home with fondness and said it was “the center of all family gatherings, church dinners, parties and family reunions.” And she duplicated that same loving atmosphere in her own home many years later. She graduated from Denison High School in 1938. In school, she was a cheerleader, active in the drama club and an officer in the Order of the Rainbow Girls.

Elizabeth attended Abilene Christian College, where she continued participating in theatric productions. There she met and married her lifelong love, Sanford Rodgers Thompson, a chemistry major from Quanah, Texas. After graduation in 1941 and a year at Texas A&M, Elizabeth and Sanford moved to Freeport, where Sanford began working for Dow Chemical Co., where he was employed for 43 years. They moved to Lake Jackson in 1961, where she lived until her death.

In Freeport and in Lake Jackson, Elizabeth continued her faith-filled walk with Christ and was an active member of the Church of Christ. She taught third grade Bible classes for many years, participated in garden club, bridge clubs, the Lionesses and PEO and was a Pink Lady at the community hospital. For many years, she wrote and edited The Ladies of the Lake newsletter.

Elizabeth and Sanford enjoyed traveling for many years. They toured the United States and Canada with the Jack and Jill Airstream Travel Club and took their children and their spouses on several cruises.

Her children truly “rise up and call her blessed.” They describe their home as always filled with love, laughter, cheerfulness and godly wisdom. She modeled what it meant to love God and love others. She is remembered for many things – an open invitation to delicious meals around her table, a comfortable place to spend the night, bridge games, lots of domino games and fun card games. She always had a twinkle in her eye and a loving wink.

She lost her beloved husband of nearly 70 years in February of 2010. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her three older siblings and one great-grandchild.

She is survived by her younger brother George and his wife, Patricia Hart McMillan, and by her three children and their spouses: Sandra and Jack Pybus of Houston, Dr. Rodger and Beverly Thompson of Lake Jackson and Donna and John Willbanks of Colleyville.

She is also survived by ten grandchildren and their spouses: David and Sara Pybus of Houston, Steven and Lisa Pybus of North Richland Hills, Kenneth and Amy Pybus of Abilene, Lacy and Dana Janssen of Brentwood, Tenn., Shelley and Don Vinson of San Marcus, Trey and Lauren Thompson of Fort Worth, Tra and Shelly Willbanks of Keller, Tara and Dwight Goodwin of Fort Worth, Matt and Alyson Booth of Dallas, and Abigail and Ryan Dunagan of Dallas.

She is also survived by 28 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews as well as many friends.

Visitation will take place from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Restwood Funeral Home in Lake Jackson. A memorial service will take place at 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Lake Jackson Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to Abilene Christian University or the Lake Jackson Church of Christ.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Tracy Solieau and the caring staff at Elmcroft Assisted Living for six years of their tender care for our mother and father. We are also thankful for the Altus Hospice team. And we especially appreciate Cynthia Hands for her loving gracious care of our mother for the past two years.