FARMINGTON – Merle A. Thompson, 95, of Farmington, formerly of North Jay, died, Monday, July 5, at Orchard Park Living and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Oct. 18, 1909, at the Thompson Farm, Stone’s Corner, Jay, a son of Alfred and Nancy (Perkins) Thompson. He attended the Stone’s Corner Grammar School and Livermore Falls High School. In his 80’s, he attended night school at CMVTI for a course in masonry, with his son-in-law, Carl Rand.

He married Ruby Sleeper July 6, 1929, at the Livermore Falls Baptist Church, parsonage. They lived at Stone’s Corner until they moved their family to North Jay in 1936.

Mr. Thompson worked at Bass Shoe for 13 years. He bought the coal business in the 40’s which he ran for 30 years after his day-job and on weekends. During World War II, he was the foreman at the North Jay Granite Quarry, where submarine nets and landing mats were secretly made and used by military planes to land on ships.

After the war, he continued to work at the quarry until it closed and also was the foreman at the time when the Jay War Memorial was built.

While at Stone’s Corner, he was a 4-H leader. He was always known as “Tompy” in Livermore Falls; but just “Tom” in Jay. Soon after moving to North Jay, he joined the fire department and served as chief for seven years and assistant chief for 25 years. He also belonged to the County Fireman’s Association. He was a member of the Masons for 50 years, belonged to the Wilton Senior Citizens, the Knights of Pythias and was a 60-plus year member of the North Jay Grange.

A devoted steward of his community, he helped develop the North Jay Water District and was in charge of the company for many years, even shoveling out fire hydrants well into his 80’s. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Jay-Niles Library, beginning in 1929, and served as president from 1947 – 1994. After he retired, a room was named in honor of him at the library and he was presented with a rocking chair, made by Arthur Mitchell of Temple.

In 1993, he received an award as runner-up for the WCSH Channel 6 Jefferson Award.

He was an avid reader, especially enjoying the morning paper. He loved to play cards, particularly cribbage and bridge. He also had a great love of children.

Anyone who attended the North Jay church suppers can remember him doing the dishes. Well known for his sense of humor, he would often tell dinner company, with a straight face, (his wife was noted as one of the best cooks in town), not to eat too much as they wanted some left over for breakfast. Then he would have a slow, easy grin that would come over his face.

He leaves his wife of 75 years, Ruby S. Thompson of Farmington, formerly of North Jay; one son, Clifton “Skip” Thompson and his wife, Marie of North Jay; two daughters, Shirley Rand and her husband, Carl of Bayside, Betty Murphy and her companion Joseph Pawloski of Chesterville; a sister-in-law, Clara Thompson of Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren, Deborah Adams and her husband, Charles, Stephen Thompson and his companion Cheryl Gatchell, Susan Anderson, Cathy Small and her husband, Harold, Thomas Rand his wife, Ann, Peter Rand, Aaron Rand, Paul Murphy, Dale Murphy and Vaughn Murphy and his wife, Carolyn; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Maynard Thompson and his wife Irene, Gerald Thompson; five sisters, Gladys Pratt and her husband, Manfred, Gertrude Pratt and her husband, Daniel, Grace Bubier and her husband, Guy, Grazie Taylor and her husband, Jim, Doris Gordon and her husband, Lou; and a very good friend, Frank Purington.

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