Marjorie M. (Markell) Thompson

Marjorie May (Markell) Thompson peacefully passed at her daughter’s residence in Mentor less than a mile away from the house where she was born, in the care of her family on September 1, 2025. In her own words, after 93 years, she “didn’t get too far.” She held onto her wits, sense of humor, and faith until the end and left this world with dignity and love, with her family by her side. She came into this world on August 2, 1932 as the youngest of four children and only daughter of Benjamin and Christina (Franks) Markell. Her mother died when she was only seven years old, and one of her older brothers, Ronnie died at sea while serving in World War II. She graduated from Mentor High School in 1950 and went on to marry James Thompson. After almost 19 years of marriage, he died suddenly of a heart attack at age 38 and left her to take care of their seven children ranging in ages 5 months to 17 years at only 36 years old. She threw herself into raising her children. She went without her whole life, “her children always first, go in debt to help them out, then say ‘things could be worse.’” She supported them by working at Bailey Meter Company for 26 years, and in her three decades of retirement took on additional gigs like getting a grandchild off to school and volunteering with Meals on Wheels. For a time, she was a Wednesday regular for breakfast at Julians in Downtown Willoughby with her son and whatever family could join. She was a devout Christian, regular churchgoer, and avid book reader. She liked puzzles, feeding squirrels, staying active in her later years (playing bocce ball, taking walks, going to Silver Sneakers at the Willoughby Y), baking (her famous buttercream frosting and Jell-O squares were always a hit with her grandkids), filling her calendar with her grandchildren’s various activities, and threading canvas decor. Her croqueted blankets were intensely fought over at Christmas. She was a rule follower to the core and had perfect Sunday School attendance. She saw and spoke to her children every day. She always said her kids were her best friends. Marjorie is survived by six of her seven children: Jay Thompson, Christina Thompson (Tracy Waldruff), Carolyn Kramer (John), Cathleen Thompson, Irene Linsky (Bill), and Mark Thompson, 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, her daughter-in-law, Diane Thompson, and her sister-in-law, Nancy Markell Crouthamel, as well as many nieces and nephews. Along with her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her older brothers: John Markell (Dee), Ralph “Ronnie” Markell, Lawrence “Larry” Markell, and her son, Jeffrey Thompson. She was honest as the day is long and the toughest human being anyone in her family ever knew, and also the kindest and most giving mother and grandmother. Calling hours will be at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060 on Friday, September 5, 2025 from 5-8 pm. A funeral service led by her favorite Pastor, Quincy Wheeler will be at the funeral home the following day, Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 10 am. Burial to follow at Mentor Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, online at www.stjude.org/ or to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, online at https://giving.billygraham.org/ Send flowers and offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

Marjorie M. (Markell) Thompson

August 2, 1932 - September 1, 2025