Gloria Joann Tompkins

Gloria Joann Tompkins

January 2nd, 1959-June 26th 2026

Gloria was born to Allen and Carole Messenger in Elkton Maryland on January 2nd, 1959. In 1970 the family moved from Maryland to Sultan, Washington where she graduated, with honors, from Sultan High School in 1977. She went on to college first at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas then back home to Everett Community College, graduating as a Registered Nurse. Gloria spent over 40 years in the nursing field, first in nursing homes, then dialysis (30 years), retiring in 2021 as a nursing case manager.

On February 20th, 1982 Gloria was married to James Craig Pitts at the Mount Lake Terrace Church of Christ. Sadly, that same year Craig passed away and Gloria became a widow.

In the fall of 1983 Gloria met Steve Tompkins. They were married on April 14th, 1984 at the Richland Church of Christ in Richland, WA. Gloria and Steve were together for 42 years. First in Snohomish County, then Richland, and Pasco, and the last 4 years in Sultan, WA, where they moved to be close to Gloria’s family.

Gloria was preceded in death by her father, Allen Messenger. She is survived by her mother, Carole Messenger, sisters Mary Jewitt and Emma Davis, and brother Allen (Buddy) Messenger Jr.

Gloria’s first child was with Steve. Steven Junior, was born in January of 1985, then Daniel came along in September of 1986. The following year, 1987, Steven Junior died in a drowning accident near their home in rural Snohomish County. Together Gloria and Steve raised seven children; Leia Lopez (nee Pittman), Steven Tompkins Jr. (deceased), Michael Tompkins, Daniel Tompkins, Samantha Tompkins, Jeremy Tompkins, and Richard Tompkins. There were also 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren who called her “Nana.”

But those are not all the children that Gloria opened her heart to. Gloria and Steve were Foster Parents for over 20 years. They opened their home and their hearts to many children. For a day or a decade it didn’t matter; if they fell into Gloria’s life, they knew that they were loved, they were important, what they needed was important, and that they mattered in this world. She loved every one of them.

Gloria and Steve were believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Wherever they lived they attended church, and wherever they attended church, Gloria taught children’s Bible classes, first at the Monroe Church of Christ in Monroe, WA, and then for more than 30 years at Westside Church of Christ in Pasco, WA.

Gloria Tompkins lived a life that mattered, and Steve was blessed to share that life and be holding her hand as she took her last breath at 4:15 AM on June 26th 2026. We will all miss her, but we are secure in the fact that she is smiling down on us from heaven, and we will see her again.