Carol (Marjory) Knepper Thompson
August 26, 1939 – May 19, 2010
Carol passed away peacefully at home on May 19th surrounded by her family, after a valiant one year fight with pancreatic cancer. Carol arrived in this world in a speeding ambulance in downtown Los Angeles, CA on August 26, 1939 the daughter of Garnet and Kenneth Knepper. Shortly after, her family moved to Bellevue, WA where she was raised with her siblings (Kenny, Bill, Marilyn, Winifred, Barbara, Shirley, David, Linda, Katy and Gayle). She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1957. On May 31, 1958 she married the sailor she was smitten with, Darrell Dore Thompson, at the Congressional Church on Northeast Eighth. Carol and Darrell began building their family a few years later and raised five wonderful daughters in Surrey Downs in Bellevue and then in 1976 relocated to Fall City so the they could all enjoy the country life. Carol then went on the earn a degree in “Home Management”, which secured her the position of CEO of the Family. The house was always filled with kids, friends, the scents of homemade food and limitless laughter. Outside the horses, dogs, kitties and bunnies roamed the grassy fields amongst Carol’s blossoming flowers. The clang of the back door was a constant as friends and family were always stopping by to be part of the loving home that Carol and Darrell created.
Over the years Carol dedicated her life to giving to others. She instilled in her girls the gifts of giving, helping and loving. You could always count on Carol to be there to help out. Carol and Darrell were avid travelers and took their children and grandchildren all over the country. She much preferred to travel in their motor home. Carol had a way of making it a “home” on wheels and logged many hours entertaining and welcoming her friends wherever they ended up. She enjoyed playing gin and other games with her friends, children and grandchildren. Carol had a natural creative ability and let is shine in all the numerous projects she took part in. She was a beautiful seamstress and loved to spend time in her sewing room creating and teaching her grandchildren to sew. Carol had the utmost respect for those who served our country and she possessed an unending patriotic spirit. One of her favorite sights was the American flag flying in the wind. Carol loved working in her gardens and spent countless hours making it a beautiful sanctuary. She took pride in the many rhododendren bushes she planted over the years and loved summer days sitting under her gazebo visiting with family and friends. Carol loved to ski with her girls, snowmobile with Darrell and their friends and she loved beachcombing and found great joy in finding stones shaped liked hearts.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Darrell; her five daughters Kim Thompson of Dana Point, CA, Kellie (Steve) Wagner of Sammamish, WA, Karly (Craig) Peiffer of Lansing, MI, Kami Curtis of Livermore, CA and Keri (Marc) Drewry of Seattle, WA, as well as her twelve grandchildren Christopher, Benjamin, Shawna, Matthew, Chris, Tayler, Eric, Claira, Brooke, Olivia, Audrey and Natasha; her siblings, Bill (Arlene) Knepper, Marilyn (Bob) Geiger, Winifred Basquette, David (June) Knepper and Linda (Duane) Mischke; Sue Thompson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom, we will miss your easy smile, the sparkle in your beautiful brown eyes and your warm embrace but please remember we will meet again at the Eastern Gate.
Family and friends are invited to a gathering to celebrate Carol’s life on Monday May 24, 2010 from 3:00-6:00PM at Beaver Lake Lodge, 25101 SE 24th Street, Sammamish, WA 98075.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to www.moyerfoundation.org/programs/CampErin.aspx.