Malissia Audrey Thomson

Malissia Audrey Thomson (maiden name Hensley) passed away on March 7th in her home in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. She was six weeks shy of 96. Malissia was born on April 28th, 1918 in Crab Orchard, KY. She was the sixth of eleven children. Her family moved to Connersville, IN in the 20’s where she grew up, married Russel Smith, and had two children; Anita Kay and Ronald Dean. She worked at Curtiss-Wright aircraft in Indianapolis during WWII. After the war, she had separated from Russel and moved with her kids to Salzer Valley near Centralia, WA. She had the kids, a cow, and chickens. She worked at Harry Rector’s diner and sold eggs by the roadside to get by. At Rector’s they nicknamed her “speed” because she was fast on her feet. In Centralia, she met Roger Thomson and they were married in Reno, NV on 26 Sep 1955. They worked in the insurance business traveling the country and in 1957 had their only child, Roger Kent Thomson. They worked their way up the California coast, thru Washington state, and settled in Pendleton, OR. In the early 60’s, they were in the cemetery business and started Skyview Memorial Park. But by 1968, her marriage to Roger had failed and she moved back to Indiana with Kent, to be with her siblings. Malissia was a hard working entrepreneur. In 1972 she started The Clothes Closet consignment store in Richmond, IN. At one point she had three stores specializing in women’s clothing, household goods, and kids clothes, toys, and furniture. The Clothes Closet was a successful business and she sold it and retired in 1984 at age 66. We will remember Mom as a feisty, hardworking gal from Kentucky. She is survived by her kids, Kent and Anita. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.