Mary Ellen Thompson

Mary Ellen Thompson passed away peacefully on August 30, 2011. She celebrated her 90th birthday at The Hearth in Avon, Indiana where she lived the last three years of her full life. Born January 16, 1921 in Grandview, Indiana, she and her brother Edward Kennedy grew up in Boonville and Lafayette. Mary Ellen helped her parents in their restaurant while attending high school at Boonville. After high school she attended secretarial school and worked in Lafayette until she married George W. Sullenger at age twenty-three. Her organizational and financial skills helped them raise four children and send them to college while managing their business, Standard gas stations. Their children, Vernon Ray, William Earl, Susan Kay and Nancy Jane had a wonderful childhood because having them was the highlight of Mary Ellen’s life. She enjoyed cooking, fishing, studying the Bible and raising a family during this 30 year marriage. She was blessed with a grandson, Philip, who she enjoyed for thirteen years. His passing made Mary Ellen even stronger in her faith. Upon her marriage to Samuel R. Thompson in 1974, she acquired a daughter Jill from his previous marriage and in the following years gained two more grandchildren, Bryan and Julie. Mary Ellen and Sam enjoyed traveling throughout the United States seeing National Parks and visiting family scattered in different states. Mary Ellen and Sam lived in Indianapolis and Plainfield during their life together. Mary Ellen was an active member of her church and volunteered her services there in numerous capacities. Her friends, family, and pastors at Plainfield United Methodist Church were a huge focus of her life. Besides her children, her brother Edward, his wife Julia and their families were very important to Mary Ellen. It was always a joy for her to visit them. She was preceded in death by Edward who passed in 2010. Mary Ellen’s latest years were fun and stress free for her. She enjoyed having someone else cook and clean in the assisted living community. There she also enjoyed playing bingo, euchre and listening to orchestra music with her friends. Children, God, giving to others and always having a sense of humor are a small summation of her beautiful life. You are invited to celebrate Mary Ellen’s life with her family on Friday, September 2nd at Plainfleld United Methodist Church, 600 Simmons St. Calling will be at 10:00 a.m. with memorial following at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Mary Ellen would want donations to go to her church.