Charlette M Thompson

Charlette went to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon August 7, 2011. Waiting for her by the Rainbow Bridge were Tillie her first childhood dog, a fox terrier, then the rest of her beloved dogs, all Dalmatians. Charlette was known by most who knew her as the Dalmatian Lady of Phoenix.

She was a charter member of the Dalmatian Club of Greater Phoenix, active in Kachina Kennel Club, and was a life member of the Phoenix Field and Obedience Club. Her love of Dalmatians went far beyond her own breeding. Hundreds of valley hospitals and nursing homes were visited by Copper, Perdi, Sally, Queenie and others. Charlette was a member of the task force that formed the Organization of Companion Animal Associations and was the first scheduler for a busy lineup of visits. All the while, she bred, trained, and showed seven dogs to their Companion Dog degrees and four to their AKC championship since 1969. She sold far more pups to enthusiastic owners who returned for more of her well-loved dogs. She also taught Obedience(all breeds) for Petsmart and for the Phoenix Parks and Recreation department.

She had another life as well. Many weddings, birthdays, showers, school events, and anniversaries were graced by the cakes she baked and decorated. She made gourmet red velvet cakes years before they became the current rage.

Charlette was a graduate of the White Cross Hospital RN program in Columbus Ohio and practiced her profession for the next sixty-one years. She found it too hard to retire and not be helping someone. She had a variety of positions: hospital, industrial, school nurse, doctors’ nurse, nursing home supervisor, and private duty nursing (she came to Arizona on one such assignment in mid-winter and ended up moving to the Valley). For those who were gifted to be in her care, she was known as the Angel lady, even if their family got one of her dogs.

Charlette was preceded in death by her beloved son Charles and by her first husband (Robert J Busick) and her second husband (Vernal Thompson). She is survived by daughter, Beth (Peter) Nick, two grandsons, David C. and Capt. Douglas R. Nick, two great grandchildren, Aniyah G. Nick and Joseph C. Nick, a nephew, a niece, one step-son, two step-grandsons, four step-great grandchildren and two grand nieces.

Her kindness, diligence to duty, loving acts to those in her care and those who recently provided her care, and her love of animals as well as people will be Charlette’s best memorial and remembrance.

A memorial service will be held Saturday August 27 at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Sun City, 12225 N. 103rd Avenue in Sun City.

Arrangements under the direction of Sunland Memorial Park, Mortuary & Cremation Center, Sun City, AZ.623-933-0161