Saltillo--Rosemary Knapp Thompson, 89, died Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at the Sanctuary Hospice House. She was born July 31, 1927, in New Orleans, La. to Mary and Spencer Knapp. She attended St. Mary of the Pines School for Girls in Choctaw, MS where she made lifelong friends. She moved to Memphis where she met and married the love of her life, Harold, and in October they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. She had a great love of learning and while raising her five children, she attended Mississippi State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in communications. Her employment included a term as secretary in Okolona for US Congressman Tom Abernathy and later as an editor of publications at the Mississippi State Extension Office in Starkville. She was a leader of the Okolona Girl Scouts where she was affectionately known as Mickey. She belonged to the Ladies Guild at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Aberdeen, the Lanier Club in Okolona, the Happy Hearts group at St. James, and various bridge and supper clubs. She loved art, writing, classical music and traveling, but most of all her church and her family.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. James Catholic Church with Father Tom Lalor, Father Tim Murphy and Father Henry Shelton officiating. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include her husband, Harold "Tommy" Thompson of Saltillo; three daughters, Kathleen (Kathy) Stokes (Ray) of Saltillo, Eileen Meis (Kevin) of Westminster, Col., and Colleen Ray (Phillip) of Okolona; one son, Harold S. (Hal) Thompson, Jr. (Susan) of Decatur, Ala.; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Maureen Thompson.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at SSt. James Catholic Church with a Rosary Service at 7:30 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the St. James Catholic Church.