Prudence Townley Thompson

PRUDENCE TOWNLEY THOMPSON

Prudence Withers Townley Thompson, 85, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2016, fittingly at the Nantucket house of SeniorCare Homes in Overland Park, KS.

Prue was born December 2, 1930 in Kansas City, MO, the only child of Newell "Honey Boy" McGee and Webster Withers Townley. Named for her paternal grandmother, Prue was a proud descendant of the McGee and Withers families who arrived in this area in 1826 and 1834 respectively. As prominent early settlers, they helped build Kansas City.

Prue's love of the outdoors and animals originated on the McGee farm, formerly located at 120th and St. Line Road. She spent much of her time there with her maternal grandmother and a favorite uncle. Her summers at Cimarroncita Ranch Camp near Ute Park, New Mexico, also made a lasting imprint on Prue. Throughout her lifetime she was devoted to many dogs, horses and a cat.

She attended Prairie School and, like her paternal grandmother, mother and daughter, graduated from The Barstow School. Prue was a loyal member of the Class of '48 and cherished lifelong friendships with her classmates, as well as the PemDay boys!

Following graduation from Briarcliff Jr. College in Westchester County, NY, Prue spent a memorable year living with college friends and teaching in Boston. Returning to Kansas City, she was a member of the 1951 BOTAR class. In 1952 Prue married Hoyt Hayes Thompson, with whom she had two children, Webster Townley Thompson and Deborah McGee Thompson Gates. Prue and Hoyt were married for 33 years.

Prue's natural social skills and beauty drew people of all ages and walks of life to her. She was a vocal sports fan and enthusiastically enjoyed her ladies tennis groups, as well as decades of duck, goose and turkey hunting. Prue organized countless trips, holidays and parties down to the finest details. Over the years, she was an asset at many national meetings and trips related to her family's company, Townley Metal & Hardware. Prue was a true "nester" and made a warm and welcoming home wherever she lived. A highlight of her life, as wife and mother, was a three-year move to Denver, CO in 1965. While living on a farm in Englewood, Prue made sure the nearby mountains and Colorado lifestyle were fully embraced by all. And last, but far from least, Prue loved "The Shack" and Nantucket.

Following in the footsteps of her father, mother and former parents-in-law, Prue gave generously of her time and talent to the Kansas City community. She was a former member of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri and the Westport Garden Club. Prue was a former president of the Friends of Children's Mercy Hospital; member of the Children's Relief Association; and board member of the Crippled Children's Nursery. For the Heart of America United Way, Prue progressed from block worker, Chairman of the Residential and School Divisions, to Chairman of the Women's Division and, ultimately, served as vice-president of the HOA United Way Board. She was a past president of the Pembroke Country Day Parent's Association and the Barstow Alumni Association, which awarded Prue its Alum of the Year award in 1980. Prue served on the Barstow School's Board of Trustees from 1969-1976. She was an involved former member of the Kansas City Country Club and once headed the beautification committee of the City of Mission Hills. In 1979, Prue was Chairman of the Jewel Ball's twenty-fifth anniversary. And, as a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, she previously served on its Altar Guild.

Surviving Prue are her son Web and his wife Barbara Thompson, and daughter Debbie and her husband Marvin H. Gates II of Batesville, AR and Scarborough, ME. "Pooh" adored her four grandchildren: Hayes Edward Thompson of Nashville, TN (Maigan), Cara Withers MacLaughlin of Omaha, NE (Ben Watson), Prudence Ann Thompson of Austin, TX and Ansel Mitchell MacLaughlin. Great-grandchildren are: Charlotte Opal Thompson and twins, Harry Townley Thompson and Jack Edward Thompson. Also surviving Prue are her five Thompson nieces and nephews and her McGee and Townley cousins. The family is grateful for Verna Stayton, who, after caring for Prue's mother, more than fulfilled her promise to be there for Prue. Since 2011 the fine people at SeniorCare Homes, in particular Nancy and Jennifer, took wonderful care of Prue. And, the family wants to thank Kansas City Hospice for making her final days peaceful.

Service will be private at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church with burial at Mount Washington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Barstow School to benefit the Elizabeth Scarritt Adams Landscaping Endowment Fund (11511 St. Line Rd. K.C. MO 64114) or Children's Mercy Hospital (2401 Gillham Rd. K.C. MO 64108).