Cecil "Pete" Raymond Thompson

Cecil Raymond “Pete” Thompson, age 98, of Pickford, Michigan, died January 19, 2018, in Cedarville, Michigan. He was born March 29, 1919, in Pickford, to John D. Stewart Thompson and Martha Lavinia (Leach) Thompson Pete grew up in Pickford. When he was seventeen years old, he was injured in a hunting accident which left him hospitalized for an entire year. He recovered, returned to school, and graduated from Pickford High School. He married Mona Jean Staley on December 9, 1944, at the Presbyterian Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They made their first home in Willow Run, Michigan, where Pete had a job with the fire department at the airport where damaged airplanes returned during World War II. After the war, Pete was offered a transfer to the east coast but decided to return home to Pickford. When Pete’s dad died in 1946, he and his brother took over the operation of Thompson Auto Sales in Pickford. In addition to operating the business and working there as a mechanic, he also drove bus for Pickford Schools. He retired from the garage at age 62 but continued to drive bus and work as the bus maintenance supervisor for several more years. Pete worked for the school a total of 38 years and countless students were greeted each day with his warm smile and a pleasant “Good Morning”. After he retired, he and Mona enjoyed camping with Good Sam’s Club friends and spent 20 winters in Avon Park, Florida. Pete was a member of the Pickford First Presbyterian Church, the Pickford Lions Club, and the Good Sam’s Club. Pete enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping, especially in Grand Marais and St. Ignace, Michigan. He always enjoyed tinkering on old machines and cars. Pete is survived by his wife of 73 years, Mona; sons, David (Linda) Thompson of Pickford, Gene (Jane) Thompson of Marne, Michigan, and Jack (Marcia) Thompson of Cedarville, Michigan; grandchildren, Candace (Larry) Warner, Cheri (Scott) Skinner, Trisha (Zac) Jennings, Wendy (Dave) Antcliff, Debra Thompson, Laura (Allen) Scheidel, Jennifer (Nate) Mackovjak, and Michael (Jane) Thompson; great grandchildren, Cassaundra (Chris), Jillian (Alex), Jacob, Adam, Christopher, Benjamin, Kyra, Griffin, Samuel, Josh, Allen, Isabelle, Dahlia, Michael, and Andie; and great great grandchildren, Kaden and Riley. Pete was preceded in death by his son, Larry Thompson in 1977; brother, Morrell Thompson; and sisters, Mildred Thompson, Shirley Stevenson, and Geraldine Nayback. Services will be held Friday, January 26, at R. Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford. Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. followed by the funeral service beginning at 3:00 P.M. Reverend Jessica Paulsen will conduct the service. Burial will be in Cottle Cemetery in Marquette Township, Michigan, in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pickford Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 266, Pickford, MI 49774 or to Cedar Cove, P.O. Box 580, Cedarville, MI 49719.

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Cecil "Pete" Raymond Thompson

March 29, 1919 - January 19, 2018