Mary Anne Thompson

Mary Anne Thompson With many knitting projects not yet finished, Mary Anne Thompson passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side, Sept. 10, 2007. Mary Anne was born Dec. 20, 1939 in Chicago, Ill. to Ernest and Mollie (Campbell) Zimmer. Growing up in Westmont, a Chicago suburb, Mary Anne was an avid tree climber and nature lover. Taught to knit by her mother, and encouraged by her third grade teacher, Mary Anne honed her skills on her frequent train rides into the city to see her grandparents. This began a lifelong passion for knitting, a craft that has bound her closely to many people, both young and old, throughout her life. Mary Anne graduated from Hinsdale Township High School and attended the University of Miami. Mary Anne married Jim Thompson, her high school sweetheart, in 1962. They headed straight to Switzerland and began a 44-year partnership filled with hard work and adventure. Together they raised four children, grew a successful international manufacuring business (ECCO), made many friends, finished daily crossword puzzles and had lots of fun at home and abroad: biking, hiking, boating and skiing. Many of these adventures were based at their "mountain house," the log cabin in the Sawtooth Valley that they dreamed of for more than 20 years and completed in 1996. One of their more notable adventures was the bike ride they made from Idaho to Chicago the year they turned 50. A gentle, quiet and practical woman, Mary Anne had a mechanical mind and could assemble almost anything, proudly claiming never to have read an instruction manual. Neighbors relied on her to help fix their small appliances, plumbing and even cars. Meanwhile, she tried to teach them all to knit! Mary Anne truly enjoyed children and her door was always open to all. Her younger brother, "Eddie" was forever bringing someone home unexpectedly for the holidays, as did her children. Mary Anne always welcomed these additions to her holiday plans. Mary Anne's later years were brimming with grandchildren and creative knitting time. For her 11 grandchildren, time with Granny was special. She noticed, respected and even wrote stories about their unique personalities and was able to see things through their eyes. This childlike wonder prevented her from passing a single banister without thinking about sliding down it; she was even known to hop on occasionally. Exploring Hull's Gulch, near her home, was another favorite shared activity and, of course, knitting. Granny trademarked a knitting row counter call the "Rowsary." She started a cottage industry with her grandchildren making the "Rowsarys" and selling them in knit shops around the west. Her knitting patterns attracted nationwide attention, winning contests and appearing in knitting books. Mary Anne was a founding member of the Treasure Valley knitting guild, active in the St. Michael's Cathedral prayer shawl ministry, and recently had been enjoying the knitting circle at Ten Thousand Villages as well as volunteering her time in the store. Friends and family can attest that Mary Anne was the master of "little things mean a lot" and that she was a talented gift giver, able to find just the right thing for almost every occasion, especially when it came to books. We are most grateful to her for all of the unseen gifts she has given us. Mary Anne is survived by her children, their spouses and her grandchildren: Heidi (Joe) Hallie and Ian Holland, Chris (Julie) Hamish and Ella Thompson, Jill (Mark) Max, Teigen, Avery and Erika Edmundson, and Annie (Sam) Madeleine, Caton and Finan Langston. She is also survived by her sister and family of Orlando, Fla., Ceil (Kagey) Moyers, Kagey, Jr. (Linda) Moyers, Patty (Bill) Calvache and Debbie (Edick) Lucas and her brother and his family Ed (Amy) Lily and Sam Zimmer, and her former husband, Jim Thompson. Mary Anne's family would like to thank the staff at St. Al's for their compassionate care and Dr. Bonnie Vestal for her invaluable guidance. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Foothills Learning Center, a children's environmental education center nestled in the Hull's Gulch Nature Reserve (Boise Parks and Recreation Department administration, 1104 Royal Blvd., Boise, ID 83706) or any other charity benefiting children. Services will be held at St. Michael's Cathedral Friday, Sept. 14, 1:30 p.m., with a gathering immediately following at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Annie and Sam Langston, 290 West Hulls Ridge Court.