Andrew "Andy/JR" Thompson, passed away at his home in Wellington, Nevada on Saturday morning, June 23, 2012, after a long battle with lung disease, just two days short of his 73rd birthday.

Andy was born in Red Bluff, California on June 25, 1939 the son of Edward and Alta (Norton) Thompson while on a cattle drive between Chico and Vina California.

Andy was a veteran having served in the U. S. Navy from 1958 - 1962. He served in Port Hueneme, California and Okinawa, Japan as a builder. He married Edith Gallagher in Reno, Nevada on November 11, 1962.

Andy and his wife, Edith have lived in Wellington, Nevada for the past 11 years. Before moving to Wellington they lived in Sacramento, California where he was an Industrial Mechanic/Safety Coordinator with Keyes Fiber Company for 35 years, where they made Chinet paper plates.

Andy loved hunting, fishing, traveling and teaching young children about gun safety, trap shooting and belonged to several gun clubs. In his later years he enjoyed rock hounding and spent many hours creating spears and many other beautiful pieces he and his wife found while rock hounding.

Andy is survived by his wife of more than 49 years, Edith; his daughter, Cathy Lynn Minichino of Waterford, Connecticut; his son, Raymond Thompson of Klamath Falls, Oregon; his grandchildren, Katie Lawrence of Salem, Connecticut, Ayla Lombardo of Elk Grove, California, Victor Thompson, currently serving in the U.S. Navy as a aircraft mechanic, Philip Minichino of Waterford, Conn.; his sister, Fern Wise of Hillsboro, Oregon; his brother,Frederick Thompson of Sacramento, Ca. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William Thompson of Elk Grove, California.

In keeping with Andy's wishes there will be a Celebration of his Life service for family and friends which will be held at his home, 239 Lower Colony Road, Wellington on Saturday, July 7th at 2:00 pm.

Family and friends are invited to sign his online guest book at www.FRFH.net, sympathy cards may be sent to his wife directly from this site.

The family requests that donationsmay be made in Andy's name to the American Lung Association.