Phillip Earl Thompson

  Phillip Earl Thompson (Phil, as he is affectionately known) was born in Portland, Oregon on November 17, 1950 to Mosco and Lena May Thompson. The fifth of seven beautiful children, it was immediately obvious that this little boy was something special. He was insightful, goal oriented, driven, hardworking, independent, and strong willed on the one hand and dependable, caring, compassionate, loving, generous, and nurturing on the other…all traits instilled in him by his parents. 

  Phil was educated in Portland, Oregon where he attended Grant High School (Go Generals!!). Phil was pragmatic in his approach to life. He believed in the dignity of work and would often tell his children, nieces and nephews that if they wanted nice things they would have to work for them. Phil was a lover of quality and liked to surround himself with the ‘finer’ things in life…and so he worked. Phil was adventurous and loved to travel. He moved to Long Beach, California where he began his professional career at Hughes Aircraft. Upon his return to Portland, he joined the Nabisco Company and then Wonder Bread. Phil was an entrepreneur. He was the owner/operator of his own trucking company before joining the Trimet Transportation Company where he worked for over 30 years before retiring in November 2012. 

  In his early years, Phil, together with his parents, and siblings became brothers and sisters of the 7th and Dekum Kingdom Hall in Portland, Oregon where they were members of the Wood Lawn congregation. Together, he and his siblings were baptized there. Phil loved Jehovah. As he grew into manhood, on any given Sunday, he could be found visiting neighboring Kingdom Halls in the Portland area to further feed his desire for spiritual knowledge and growth. His introduction to spirituality and his love of Jehovah was cultivated as a young man when he was introduced to the ‘Serenity Prayer’. That prayer fueled his quest for knowledge concerning the scriptures and became the rule by which he lived his life. 

  As a child, Phil loved to dress. He admired high fashion and understood instinctively what it would take to satisfy his desire to always present himself well, and so he worked. As a small boy he would pick beans & berries and sell them to earn money to purchase his school clothes. As a teenager he worked at McDonald’s to do the same. As a young adult, Phil was a successful business man. He honed his craft as a carpenter and became known around town as ‘the’ man to call for exceptional renovations and home additions. Phil was knowledgeable about most things and everyone knew they could call on him at any time. Phil met no strangers. And as a result, he was extremely popular with the young ladies in Portland, but his sense of responsibility and love of family drove him to search for that special “one”. He met the love of his life, JoAnn Brunson in June of 1972. They married in January 1973. To that union, 4 beautiful children were born: Kai, Phillip Deandre (DeeDee), Anjaneik, and Shaun. While Phil preached education, responsibility and independence to his children, he would always ensure that none of them wanted for anything. Phil was a car guy. He had a love for the classics and dedicated countless hours to restoring them to their former glory. His garage was a sanctuary where he meticulously worked on each vehicle, bringing life back to those vintage beauties with his skilled hands. Phil’s attention to detail and commitment to preserving automotive history was evident in every project he undertook. His enthusiasm was infectious, and he often shared his knowledge and stories with fellow car enthusiasts. Phil’s legacy will live on in the timeless classics he restored, a testament to his devotion and love for the art of car restoration. IIt is impossible to pay tribute to Phil without recognizing the important role that fishing played in his life. Phil loved taking his wife, children and grandchildren fishing. He loved teaching them the art of casting lines and patiently waiting for a tug. Phil believed in laughing and building strong bonds between the generations. His legacy isn’t just in the fish he reeled in; it’s in the memories etched in the hearts of those he loved most, his family. 

  Phil left us unexpectedly on August 3, 2024. 

  He was preceded in death by his father & mother, Mosco & Lena May Thompson and his Sister’s Gladas Givens, & Dorothy Barnett. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife: JoAnn (Brunson) Thompson, his seven children: Kai Thompson, Phillip Deandre (DeeDee) Thompson, Anjaneik Thompson, Shaun (Emily)Thompson, Lavont Baker, Nechelle Thompson, and Kevin Pierson and fifteen (15) grandkids and a host of nieces and nephews.