April Ann Thompson

April Ann Thompson passed away from cancer on April 24, 2024, in Olympia, Washington, her home of 46 years.  She was born August 13, 1950, to Allen Arthur Smith and LaVonne Elizabeth Smith in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She also resided in John Day and Bend, Oregon; and Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, Alameda and San Jose, California.

April graduated in 1968 from Lincoln High School in San Jose and attended San Jose State University from 1968 to 1970. She married Gary Thompson on June 7, 1969, in San Jose. After moving to Olympia, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication from The Evergreen State College in 1983.

Professionally, April worked for the Washington State Department of Commerce (2007-2009), Habitat for Humanity Mason County (2005-2007), Washington State Department of Revenue (2002-2005), and Washington State Department of Transportation (1992-2002). Prior to her eldest son’s birth in 1976, April had a variety of jobs, including Shell Gas Station manager, newspaper writer, and filling short-time vacancies for a job agency.

April also was a dedicated volunteer.  She would go all in whenever she joined an organization, volunteering her time or skills. The PAWS dog therapy was a good example of her help in training and testing new volunteers. Another effort was the Lasagna MaMa program during COVID to make and deliver lasagnas to families in need.  Her generosity knew no bounds.

Memberships included PAWS (Providence Animal-Assisted Activity and Therapy, formerly PAATS (2011 to present), WSU Master Gardner Program of Thurston County (2006), and Thurston County Crisis Hotline (1999).

She loved quilting and sewing, pet therapy in hospital settings, gardening, cooking, volunteering at the food bank, and traveling.  She also loved sharing time with her sons, their wives, and children.

April is survived by her husband, Gary Thompson; sons, Lucas Thompson (wife, Hayla) and Seth Thompson (wife, Lynna); five grandchildren; and sisters, Nancy Johnson and Carol Chapman. She was predeceased by her parents; and brothers, Steven A. Smith and Robert G. Smith III.

Services will be held August 17, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at South Sound Manor, 455 North St. SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. You are welcome to arrive before the service, beginning at 10:30 a.m., to visit with family and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to PAWS by check, mailed to Providence Southwest Washington Foundation, 423 Lilly Road NE, Olympia, WA 98506; make the check out to the foundation, requesting the gift be given to PAWS in honor of April Thompson.  Online contributions: https://www.paws.org   

Memorial donations may also be made to the World Kitchen at https://wck.org/ or the Planned Parenthood at https://bit.ly/3RcaxZm    

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