Phyllis Valleau Thompson

Our beloved mother, Phyllis Valleau Thompson, 94, left this world on Friday, December 11, 2020; dying peacefully in her sleep at Westport Place Health Center in Louisville. Mom was born in Lexington, the 4th of five children and raised in a home where kindness, acceptance and consideration of others was the norm. Her parents, Dr. William Dorney and Marion Reed Valleau and all of her siblings have since passed away, but she kept them alive in spirit with shared stories of a happy childhood.

At 21, she married her first and only love, Ken D. Thompson. They were opposites in many ways, which was the key to their nearly 70 years together. Mom became the 'homemaker' and Dad, the 'provider' which suited their personalities perfectly. In the nine years that followed, their family grew to 4 children, all living in their St. Regis Park home until moving on to their adult lives.

While busy raising a family, Mom was generous with time in helping others. Always working quietly in the background of some greater cause, she spent countless hours sorting clothing for needy families at the old Clothes Closet in Christ Church Cathedral. In her neighborhood, she would collect for the Mother's March of Dimes and other worthy causes. In the 60's, our Dad spearheaded the Louisville polio vaccine campaign and Mom helped organize the 'Sabin Sundays' where families would line up at their near-by schools to receive a drop of the preventive vaccine on a sugar cube. As our Dad was also an interim minister at several Episcopal churches, Mom sang in the choirs of all. In her 70's and well into her mid-80's, she volunteered her time and services to another cause near and dear to her heart, 'delivering Meals on Wheels to old people' as she was known to say.

In 1986, Mom and Dad moved to Spencer County where they lived on their beautiful farm for more than 30 years. In 2016, Dad died suddenly and a fall cut short Mom's plan of living by herself. She soon moved to Westport Place where she lived comfortably in her 'apartment', but still visited the farm often. She spent countless hours working jigsaw puzzles with family, reading or doing word circle puzzles. On pleasant days, she could be found sitting in the sun of the courtyard and watching the clouds float by. She loved family (little children especially), gardening, watching the birds and squirrels at her window and anything chocolate.

Though separated from her family due to the quarantine, she still managed to find a bright spot in each day and looked forward to the vaccine, the end of Covid and being with family once again. In her last week of life and in spite of every precaution taken by those who cared for her, she contracted this insidious virus.

Our mother was like no other. Generous of heart and spirit and rich in her simplicity, she took from life only that which she needed and nothing more. Regardless the storm, she was observant, but never guarded and being with her changed who we were. She was funny, kind, wise and uncomplicated. Like the nursery rhyme, she was never too much or not enough, but just right.

She will be missed by daughter and favorite (and only) son-in-law, Ann & Bob Bellucci and son, Dorney Thompson and daughter-in-law, Libby Wahl of Louisville. Son and daughter-in-law, Dan Thompson & Ellen Didier of Decatur, AL and son and daughter-in law, David & Ronnie Thompson of Loveland, CO. Grandchildren Kristin, Michael, Reed, Callie, Evan, Beth, Bill, Jenni, Bryan, Matt, Rob, Rachel and Emily and 13 great-grandchildren.

Our family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dana Boblitt, director of WP, Mom's exceptional nurse practitioner, Bree Hall who knew Mom as well as we did and the loving staff of nurses, aides and workers in other areas who all knew Mom on sight and by name. We are eternally grateful for the care and attention she received from each of you.

It was Mom's request in lieu of flowers, that you simply do something kind for someone else or give generously to one of her favorite charities: The Healing Place, Crusade for Children or the Multi-Purpose Community Action of Shelbyville "Meals on Wheels" program.

Arrangements for her cremation are being handled through Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel. As there will be no gathering planned at this time, we sincerely hope you will share a special memory of our Mom.

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