Jamie Lou Thompson

Jamie Lou Simmons was born on June 15, 1949 to Jim and Mary Lou Simmons in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first-born of six to a Woolworth manager, there were several stops along the way before the Simmons family settled down and made their home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Jamie’s father worked many hours at the dime store and her mother helped out both at home and at work. So, Jamie quickly grew into a motherly role to her sisters and brothers, keeping the Simmons’ brood in check. She loved being the big sister, maybe sometimes to a fault, as her five siblings would complain that sometimes she had an oversized opinion and tended to boss them around. She would attend Tahlequah High School and graduate in 1967.

Shortly after graduating, she was introduced to Bill Thompson by his aunt Burlie who knew the Simmons’ family from church. Burlie described Bill as "a little homely, but really nice”, so Jamie was not interested in meeting him. But Jamie would tell you that when he picked her up for their first date in his brand new, shiny red, Fury III, she was impressed and quickly smitten. In 1968, they married and settled in Del City, Oklahoma.

In 1971, she and Bill moved to Lubbock, Texas so Bill could attend the Sunset School of Preaching. In Texas, Jamie gave birth to the first of four children, Becca Janene. After a brief time in Pennsylvania, they returned to Del City where Bill would work at Tinker, and Jamie would raise the family. The following years welcomed Holly Kay, followed quickly by Craig William and Darin Stephen came three years later to round out the crew. Volunteering as the home-room mother, ball-game scorekeeper, and even the occasional stint coaching a little-league team would keep her busy when the kids were little.

Jamie and the family attended Eastside Church of Christ, where she was known for throwing fun holiday parties, elaborately decorating classrooms for VBS, teaching Ladie’s Bible Class, or bringing some favorite dishes to the pot-luck lunches. Always the chef in the kitchen at home or at church, Jamie was an amazing cook who could whip up something for family or friends using her taste-buds in place of a measuring spoon or recipe. At Eastside, she formed an unbreakable sisterhood with Helen Cannefax, Avis Martindale and Betty Carter, which would go on to rule the world – or at least their little corner of it.

Life would change directions, as it does, and difficult circumstances convinced Jamie to go back to school. She fell in love with Sociology and obtained a bachelor's and master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. She taught at UCO and Rose State for many years. Although she did not want to assume the leadership role in her family, Jamie would guide the Thompson family through many ups and downs. Sometimes; Jamie had her own ups and downs, but even then, she loved and served her family and God. She taught her family to put God first, serve others, and to love.

After fighting cancer in 2020, and surviving a difficult heart surgery, Jamie’s body grew tired and weak. She was called home on July 18, 2022 with those closest to her doing their very best to love her back. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Bill; her parents Jim and Mary Lou Simmons, and one sister, Carol Schweikard. She is survived by sisters Sally Evans, Sherry Morgan and husband Gary; brothers David Simmons and wife Charlotte; Jim Simmons and wife Susan; children Becca Sharp and partner Kim Roberti, Holly Osburn and husband Mike, Craig Thompson and wife Pepper Peña, and Darin Thompson and wife Jessica, all of Edmond Oklahoma. She is also survived by grandchildren Tyler Jackson, Connor, Autumn, and Dillon Sharp; Cole, Bodie, and Gentry Osburn; Talayne Thompson; and Brynlee, Zoey, Mary, and Camden Thompson; as well as great-grandchildren Addie, Elias, Callan and Eden Jackson.

She will be deeply missed by all, but leaves a family that loves each other and that was very proud to call her “Mom” or “Nana”.