Roll Call Tribute

Perry Thompson, Jr. 

October 6, 1938 - February 28, 2025 

Services for Perry Thompson, Jr., 86, of Tyler, Texas will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Reverend Scott Wiley officiating.

Perry passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025, in Tyler. He was born October 6, 1938, in Longview, Texas to his parents Perry Thompson, Sr. and Flora Louise (Moore) Thompson. Perry graduated from Longview High School in 1957 and began working for his father part-time at Perry Thompson Surveying. In 1959, he entered the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M, Perry met the love of his life, Carolyn Jannett Sartain. Perry graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering in the Texas A&M University Class of 1963. Those of you that know Perry, know he is a true testament to the Aggie Spirit. WHOOP!

Upon graduating, he began his professional career as an Engineer for the Texas Highway Department specializing in Bridge and Road Design. In 1972, Perry formed Thompson & Associates, a professional Engineering and Land Surveying firm in Tyler, Texas. As principal and owner of the company, Perry fostered the growth of some of the most respected surveyors and engineers through his company. Many of whom have moved on to continue to uphold the principles to which he instilled in them while at Thompson & Associates, Inc. Perry had a story to tell anywhere he traveled around East and North Texas about projects he worked on in the past or just good times he had with family and friends.

Perry was active in many organizations and societies throughout his life. Most notably he’s a past President of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS), Past President of Tyler Kiwanis Club, Past Lieutenant Governor of Division #34 for the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation, A&M Club, a Director of the Board for UT Tyler College of Engineering, 12th Man Foundation, Champions Council, Texas A&M Foundation, Sharon Shriners and Longview Masonic Lodge #404.

Perry is preceded in death by his parents, Perry Thompson, Sr. and Flora Louise (Moore) Thompson; wife, Carolyn “Jannett” (Sartain) Thompson.

He is survived by his loving family including his daughter Marilyn (Thompson) McKellar and husband, Thomas G. McKellar of Tyler; son Perry Thompson, III and wife, Leslie (Kent) Thompson of Whitehouse, TX; sister, Sandra Sue (Thompson) Sartain of Longview, TX. He was Pop, PaPaw and Paw Paw to grandchildren, Steven J. Freeman, II and wife, LeeAnna of Tyler, TX, Kristopher Freeman and wife, Blaire of Clayton, MO, Kurtis Freeman and wife, Ashley of Fort Worth, TX; Ashley (Thompson) Fettig and husband, Aric of Tyler, TX, Brooke (Thompson) Harris and husband, Tavis of Tyler, TX; Katy McKellar of Tyler, TX and Sarah McKellar of Galveston, TX, along with fourteen (14) great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Steven J. Freeman, II, Kristopher Freeman, Kurtis Freeman, Aric Fettig, Tavis Harris, Alexander Freeman, and Kaden Freeman.

A visitation is scheduled from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway in Tyler.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to these organizations that were important to Perry; Christus Trinity Mother Frances Foundation, 12th Man Foundation or Surveying Education Foundation of Texas, Inc. (SEFT) at 1595 E. Grande Blvd., Tyler, TX 75703, where Perry was a Life Member.

The family would like to extend great thanks to Perry’s longtime office manager and bookkeeper, Donna Allen. Donna, you have become like family and we thank you for the love, loyalty, & respect you have always had for our Pop.