Mary Frantz Tompson

Mary F. Tompson, of Columbia, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Lenoir Woods Senior Living Homes. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the First Christian Church, Columbia. A time for fellowship will follow at the church. Burial will be private for the family.

Mary was born on September 4, 1931, in Moberly, MO, to Frank A. Humphrey and Bassett Davis Humphrey. She attended public school in Madison, MO, and graduated from Christian College (now Columbia College) in 1951 with a BA.

Mary married Clifford W. Tompson on August 21, 1951 in San Diego, California, where both were employed by the US Navy. The couple moved back to Columbia after the first of their three children was born. Once her children had all reached school age, Mary completed her education at the University of Missouri and received a BS in Education. For most of her nearly 25 year career, Mary taught second grade at West Boulevard School. This was a wonderful time in her life, and she made many lifelong friends.

Mary was an active member of the First Christian Church in Columbia for nearly 70 years. As a Christian College student, every Sunday she and all the other girls walked down Walnut in the hats and white gloves to church services. Once she and Clifford married, they became an active part of the Hearthstone church school class. They continued their involvement from the years of the Reverend Clarence Lemmon through the leadership of M. Glynn Burke, Sam Langley, John Yonker and Brad Stagg, serving in many capacities. In the fall of 1962, Mary helped to start the Drennan Circle (of CWF). She organized the making of the Anniversary Quilt in 2007 to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the First Christian Church. Church families designed and sewed the squares, and Mary sewed the final blocks together to make the beautiful quilt now hanging in the church. She also began the Shawl Ministry, and for many years a group of women from the church knitted shawls and delivered them to the homebound members. She and Clifford were active with the College Ministry and hosted many events for the college students. Mary also helped to make Election Day Luncheons, which were served to voters at the church. Mary served as Deaconess for many years, then served as Elder in later years.

Apart from all of her church activities, Mary found that she loved the fellowship she found in the many clubs and organizations she joined throughout her life. As a young mother and MU faculty wife, Mary loved meeting other faculty wives in the Fortnightly Group. She was very active in her PEO group and found many lifelong friends. After retiring, Mary enjoyed the Boone County Retired Teachers. She and Clifford enjoyed bridge groups and a book club together. Mary found her true passion to be quilting, and she enjoyed meeting with fellow quilters in the Friends of Booneslick Trail Quilter’s Guild. She was an exception quilter and enjoyed giving her finished quilts to family members. Clifford good-naturedly accompanied her on fabric finding missions and to estate sales, looking for old quilts.

Mary is survived by her daughter Julia (Dr. Anton) Johnson of Springfield, IL and son Clifford, Jr. (Mae) Tompson of Crystal, NM; grandchildren Katie and Sarah Johnson, Brooke (Jorgensen) Braem, her husband Paul, Amanda (Jorgensen) Mize, her husband Brandon, Elizabeth Jorgensen, and Colin Tompson and his wife Josie; eleven great grandchildren; several nephews and nieces; and special sisters-in-law June Ann Humphrey and Vivien Tompson of Moberly. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dr. James D. Humphrey of Mound City, MO. Beloved daughter Mary Elizabeth Jorgensen (husband Thomas) of Coralville, IA, sadly passed away in October 2020.

Mary leaves us all better for having known her, and we will remember her kindness, selflessness, and integrity. We miss her more than we can express, but we are so grateful for all of the memories we made together. We are grateful, too, that she is now reunited with her husband of 73 years, her beloved daughter, Beth and so many other loved ones.

Those who wish may leave memorials to the First Christian Church in Columbia, the Clifford W. Tompson Scholarship in Physics at UMC (407 Reynold’s Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211), or to a charity of their choice.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com