Nancy J. Thompson

Nancy Jane Thompson, 86, passed away Wednesday afternoon, November 19, 2025 at the Dumas Hospital in Dumas, Texas.

The daughter of Paul H. and Esther F. (Watson) Winstead, she was born November 24, 1938 in San Angelo, Texas. Nancy attended school in Amarillo and graduated from Amarillo High School, and then attended Amarillo College for a short time.

Nancy was a late in life child since her brother and sister had already grown and left home, and she was raised by her older mother, father, and grandmother, Rena Dell Watson, who spoiled her often. She was baptized at the age of 9 at West Amarillo Christian Church, where her mother was a long-time member of the Berean Sunday School Class. She grew up at 2109 S. Ong in Amarillo, and after high school graduation became the church secretary at West Amarillo Christian Church until June 28, 1958, when she married the love of her life, E. Neil Thompson at West Amarillo Christian Church. Nancy went with Neil to live in Oceanside, California while he finished up his tour of duty with the U.S. Marines.

Nancy and Neil moved back to Amarillo and on August 21, 1961, Nancy and Neil had Adele Elaine Thompson and a year or so later helped start a new Amarillo church, Oakdale Christian Church off Grand Street. As Neil was stepping up the ladder of his stockbroking career, they moved to Chicago and then to Seattle, Washington, where they bore their son, David Neil Thompson on March 29, 1965. Soon thereafter, they moved to Staten Island, New York where Neil began his major stockbroking career at the John Nuveen Company on Wall Street. After two years they moved to Edison, New Jersey and bought their first home, where Adele started first grade and Neil commuted by trains to New York for his job. Nancy and Neil helped start a new church called the Marlboro Christian Church in Marlboro, New Jersey, about an hour away from their home, where they met and cherished some of their most precious, life-long Christian friends. Neil left John Nuveen Company after some time to work for Hemphill, Hornblower & Weeks firm in Trenton, New Jersey.

After several years there, Neil developed Multiple Sclerosis and the family sold their home and moved back to Amarillo in August of 1974 to be back near their families. Nancy, Neil and family joined Washington Ave. Christian Church and were very involved there and helped teach young adults and children alike. Nancy sometimes helped out as the church secretary when she wasn't at home taking care of Neil. Nancy was President of WACC's Women's Circle and was honored with a church-made quilt from their quilting group in 1979. She continued to take care of Neil in their home until it became clear to the church that she needed help. The church family inquired of the Bivins family (with close ties with the earlier West Amarillo Christian Church) about getting Neil into the newly built Bivins Memorial Nursing Home in Amarillo. Because of Nancy and Neil's faithful Christian service in Amarillo and New Jersey, they granted Neil occupancy there free of charge until his death in December of 1987.

Nancy began working as an Admitting Clerk at the old St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo after Neil was placed in Bivins Memorial Nursing Home until she retired in 2003. She was a big part of her children's and grandchildren's lives, who all loved her beyond words.

The only vacation Nancy and Neil ever took after they started a family was a stockbroking business trip to Vermont one weekend, where Nancy was wined and dined as her very gracious life deserved. Nancy was the epitome of "a wife of noble character" as described in Proverbs 31:10-31.

She was preceded in death by her husband, E. Neil Thompson, her father and mother, her brother, M.T. Winstead, her sister, Bettye Dell (Winstead) Byrd, and four nephews, Robert Byrd, Richard Byrd, Michael Byrd, and Christopher Byrd.

Survivors include her loving daughter, Adele Klepper and husband John of Sunray, Texas; son, David Neil Thompson of Amarillo; dearly beloved grandchildren, Ashley Gifford and husband, Jeremy of Amarillo; Kayla Carter and husband, Sam of Boyd, Texas; and John Neil Klepper of Houston; and great-grandchildren, Colton Ross Carter, Gavin Don Gifford, Kesleigh Renee Carter, and Ivy Jane Gifford, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday morning, November 24th at 10:00 a.m. at the Texhoma First Christian Church. Graveside services followed at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas.

The family suggests memorials be given to First Christian Church in Texhoma. Memorials will be accepted at Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112, Guymon, Oklahoma 73942. Friends can sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.