Paul Spurgeon "Sonny" Thompson, III, 71, of Jonesboro died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro of natural causes.

He was born in Jonesboro and had lived most his life in Trumann before moving to Jonesboro six years ago.

Thompson was a funeral director and embalmer for over 50 years for the family owned Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, was retired Poinsett County Coroner after 36 years of service, member of the Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Northeast Arkansas Funeral Directors Association, past president of the Memorial Insurance Company of America, veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean War, past president of the Trumann Lions Club, retired member of the Trumann Volunteer Fire Department and member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann.

He was preceded in death by his father and step-mother, Paul S. and Elzora Adams Thompson, Jr.; his mother and step-father, Raye Carr and Clinton Dalton and one step-sister, Sheila Dalton.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Cole Thompson of the home; a daughter, Sharen Rae Gann of Trumann; a son, Paul S. Thompson, IV of Bay; a step-daughter, Kristie Martin of Jonesboro; three sisters, Diane Bonnell of Albuquerque, N.M. Sue McAdams of Dallas, Tex. and Karen Slinkard of Rogers; a brother, David E. Thompson of Trumann; two step-sisters, Debbie Dalton and Connie Bell of Springfield, Mo.; one step-brother, Dale Dalton of Springfield, Mo. and three grandchildren, Colbi Thompson, Mavrick Thompson and Brit Hawkins.

Visitation is set from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Aug., 31 at Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 at the First Baptist Church in Trumann with Dr. Tad Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Trumann.

Active pallbearers will be Jay Goodman, Jackie Richardson, Perry Sims, Lloyd Langford, Bill Teague, Richard Jernigan, Debbie Smith, GL McCrackin and Lee Mahan.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Northeast Funeral Directors Club, Arkansas Funeral Directors Club, Board of Directors of Memorial Insurance Company, Trumann Lions Club and Norman Francis, Sr.

Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis or the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock.