Ruella M. Thompson

Ruella M. Thompson, 83, of Amarillo, passed away on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Celebration of Life Services will be 2:00 PM Thursday at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home Chapel, 4180 Canyon Drive, with Gary Lemley officiating. Ruella was born January 21, 1937 in Claude, Texas to Walter and Rua McGowan. She graduated from Claude High School. She was very proud of the fact that her basketball team at Claude went to state for basketball all four of her high school years. Ruella worked for the Amarillo State Center of Human Development as an education specialist. She became a Special Olympics coach in 1970, and was a fixture there for the next 30 years. Ruella was a true entertainer and loved people. She enjoyed gardening and flowers. She adored her grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her son, Tony Kent Thompson. Survivors include three daughters, Sherry Jo Lemley and Gary Lemley of Millican, Tammy Rae Thompson and Rocky Fiel of Bells, and Debbie Lee Thompson of Amarillo; a sister, Shirley Ann Floyd of Amarillo; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial donations may be made to Texas Special Olympics Area 16 - Panhandle, at www.sotx.org/area-home.