Grayce Ellen Thompson, age 64, died Monday, April 12, 2021, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest and sharing memories of her. A private Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 18 at Tobias Funeral Home in Kettering, Ohio.
Grayce was born on Thursday, May 31, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio to Charles H. Waterman Jr. and Grayce Waterman. She was the youngest of four children. She married Michael Thompson on November 20, 1976 and celebrated 33 years of marriage before his passing.
A graduate of the Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing class of 1977, she dedicated her life to nursing for 43 years. She recently retired in December 2019 from Kettering Memorial Hospital to spend more time with family and friends. Grayce felt that her biggest accomplishment was working full-time while raising a family for so many years.
Her interests included family, gardening, sewing, painting, reading, bowling, cooking and traveling (especially to the beach). Throughout her life, Grayce devoted much of her time to her family and most recently took care of her youngest granddaughter. She loved to try new things whether it was an intricate craft project or a very adventurous recipe. The simplest pleasures in life brought the greatest joy to Grayce. She loved an evening with her family and a glass of wine in hand. Grayce will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Grayce is survived by her sisters and brother and their spouses: Mary Christensen (Jon Christensen); Suzi Onaitis (Ken Onaitis); Charles H. Waterman III (Annie Waterman); her children and their spouses, Amanda Schober (Ben Schober), Adam Thompson, Carrie Thompson and Linsey Columbe (Patrick Columbe). She had nine grandchildren: David, Sarah, Owen, Zach Luke, Liam, Layla, Laney and Archer.
She was preceded in death by her father, mother, and husband.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Grayce’s name to be sent to Hospice of Dayton or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Only One Mother
By an Unknown Author
Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of birds in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
DONATIONS
Hospice of Dayton
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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