Becky Thompson (Read)

REBECCA LOUISE (READ) THOMPSON

Becky was born 28 August 1950 in Centralia, Washington, youngest child of Wayne Edward Read and Flora Pauline (Orr) Read. She graduated from Centralia High School and then Azusa Pacific College with a BA in Music Education. She taught music in Hemet, California where she met William David Thompson and they were married in 1974. They moved in 1978 to Brookings, Oregon and opened "The Crafted Cow," a leatherwork and shoe repair business as well as custom upholstery. In 1987 they moved to Salem, Oregon and continued their business, expanding the upholstery shop and beginning to teach upholstery classes, woodworking, and suburban farming.

Becky was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church Choir, avid Master Gardener, past president and current vice president of the Cherry City Orchid Society. She loved visiting with family and friends, reading, and taking her daughters and grandchildren to the Oregon Zoo. She was an incredibly talented and creative craftsperson, cooking, sewing, and knitting. Making beautiful things was not a hobby, it was her way of life. She would say that she wasn't much of an animal person, but the evidence of her tolerance of the family menagerie points to the contrary. Her garden was astonishing, it expanded over the years into an orchard and small vineyard. She was a natural teacher, and passed on her knowledge of all these things freely and eagerly. She died on March 28th from sudden illness which led to heart failure.

She is survived by her husband Bill, her daughters Sarah and Stephanie, son in law Michael Afentoulis, grandchildren David, Hailey, Hannah, Danielle, and Anthea, sister Jeanne Klee, brothers David and Bob Read. She leaves behind a large and affectionate extended family that she loved very much. She was the family singer, story-teller, counselor, and friend. Her spiritual legacy is that of unconditional love, she embodied to many the pure love of Jesus and helped people to come to understand their own faith.