Patricia Marilyn "Pat-Pat" Thompson
Patricia Marilyn “Pat-Pat” Thompson
February 6, 1947 – December 7, 2018
Patricia Marilyn "Pat-Pat" Thompson peacefully went to heaven on Dec. 7, 2018, while her family sang “Amazing Grace” at the ICU at Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas. She was born to Worth and Virgie Thompson on Feb. 6, 1947, just 29 minutes before her twin sister Michaelyn in San Antonio, Texas.
She is survived by her twin sister Michaelyn and brother-in-law Mike Atkinson of Marble Falls, Texas; niece, Jennifer and her husband Dale Wyble of Woodway, Texas; nephew Ryan Atkinson and niece Kari Atkinson of Marble Falls; and three great nephews, Jayson, Will and Colin Wyble of Woodway; along with a host of many loving friends, neighbors and her church family.
Pat was a loving daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, great aunt, teacher, and friend. She will be remembered and greatly missed by all who knew her.
Pat grew up in Devine, Texas, and moved to Kerrville her junior year of high school. Pat and her sister Michaelyn or "Mike" graduated from Tivy High School in 1965. Both "Pat and Mike" as the twins were known, attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, where they earned degrees in education and both became teachers.
While at Howard Payne University, "Pat and Mike" met Jacque Jordan and Cynthia Clawson, their dorm room suitemates and they all have remained lifelong friends to this day and
cherish knowing their friendship through Christ is forever. After graduating Howard Payne University in 1970 with a degree in Secondary Art and Music Education, Pat earned a second degree in Elementary Education at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.
Miss Thompson began teaching second grade in her hometown of Devine in 1970. In 1974 she moved to Bandera, where she continued teaching second grade. In 1979, she moved to Marble Falls and taught fourth grade and then returned to teaching second grade. She retired in 2004 from Marble Falls ISD after 33 years of teaching. Miss Thompson influenced countless lives as she inspired a love of learning in her students. She was known for her creativity and the "claw foot" antique bathtub filled with pillows in her classroom that was the perfect place for reading. When she retired, she passed on the tub to her niece, Jennifer, also a reading teacher who continues her aunt Pat-Pat's legacy of inspiring students to read and find the JOY in learning.
Pat-Pat was not only an inspiring teacher but an accomplished artist and musician as well. She was an integral part of First Baptist Church, Marble Falls, and used her abilities and artistic talents to serve the church as organist, accompanist for Sunday Services, countless choir practices, weddings and even funerals. She was a wedding planner, VBS teacher, set decorator for pageants and was always willing to help organize and lend her eye for details to enhance any event. She served First Baptist Church Marble Falls for a total of 39 years and was dearly loved by her church family, especially her Sunday School class. "Pat-Pat" was drawn to the Creative Hearts Ministry and was dedicated to their objective to offer people tangible love and comfort (usually a quilt) during a health crisis or need. Pat-Pat was blessed by this ministry because it met her own needs of fellowship while allowing her to use her creative heart to bless others.
In 2009, Pat-Pat’s heart got sick. It must have worked so hard loving others that she needed a new one. That year we all saw "What Faith Can Do" and that "Miracles can happen and broken hearts can become brand new.” With God's timing and the gift of a heart transplant we all had the blessing of nine more years with Pat-Pat.
A celebration of Pat's life was held Sunday, Dec. 16, at First Baptist Church, 901 La Ventana, Marble Falls, with Ross Chandler officiating.
If you would like to honor the memory of Miss Pat Thompson, "Pat-Pat", you might consider: Creative Hearts Ministry- First Baptist Church Marble Falls; American Heart Association; or Donate Life Texas, donatelifetexas.org.
Pat-Pat was blessed with a good heart and her hope was that everyone would bless others by becoming an organ donor as well.
