James Earl Jim Thompson

James Earl Thompson, 68, of Gardiner, Montana, beloved husband of Jacqueline Thompson, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015 with his wife, son and daughter in-law at his side. A Memorial Funeral Service will be held 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, May 5th, at the Franzen-Davis Chapel (118 N 3rd Street) in Livingston. Viewing and visitation will be held on hour prior to the service at Franzen-Davis. The service will be conducted by Father Leo McDowell of the Park County Catholic Parish. Jim was born the son of the late Joseph and June Thompson of West Deer Township, Pennsylvania on July 18, 1946. Jim worked for Galion Amco in Ohio making ammunition parts before moving to Gardiner to be near his grandchildren. He started working for the National Park Service in Yellowstone in 1985 where he was a painter for 30 years. He enjoyed his work on the paint crew and traveling throughout Yellowstone to paint various NPS structures, some in remote locations. From childhood, Jim loved baseball with a passion and bought baseball cards and his first $3 baseball bat from the corner grocery store. The sports attraction grew to include football, golf and NASCAR. Jim loved his grandchildren and enjoyed rafting and fishing with them as well as attending their school sports events and plays. Jim loved the world of finance, coin collecting and the stock market exchange. He even got the paint shop crew to join him in trading penny stocks. His family lived off of their garden in Pennsylvania growing up and Jim brought his gardening skills to Montana striving to grow a perfect succulent back east tomato. He was particular about his life and this included his lawn where he had a manual timing system to move the sprinkler every 15 minutes for equal water disbursement. It was said of him that he was a remarkable man and very much loved. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jacqueline Thompson of Gardiner. His daughter Jackie Jerla, her husband Ralph and their three children Carly, Zach and Jeremy and their significant others. His son Scott Lear of Salem, Virginia and his wife, Wendy and three grandchildren. His granddaughter Angela of Helena, Montana and her spouse Aaron and blended family of four children. Jims surviving family in Pennsylvania are Sharon L. Thompson of West Deer, Joseph E. Thompson IV and his wife, Shelli, of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Sandra J. Kress of West Deer, and Charles R. Thompson and wife, Danielle, of West Deer. Surviving brothers and sisters are Gloria Patton of Kenton, Ohio, Shirley Bacher, of Mineral Ridge, Ohio. Frank Thompson of West Deer, Cynthia Lutz of Indiana Township and Ronald Thompson of Marienville. Jim was preceded in death by his two sons, Paul A. Lear and Ronald D. Lear; brother, Joseph E. Thompson, III, as well as, his parents Joseph and June Thompson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Williams Catholic Church in Gardiner, or to the Livingston HealthCare Hospice. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in Livingston.