Stuart Allen Thompson

Stuart Thompson died July 24th at his home in Cleveland, MO, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Middletown, OH, on July 31, 1948 to Dorothy and Donald Thompson, Stuart grew up in California's San Fernando Valley where he was active in the Boy Scouts, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout. He was a graduate of Reseda High School, Reseda, CA. In 1968, at 20, Stuart volunteered to serve in Vietnam. A Platoon Sergeant, he was part of the Army's Big Red One Counter Offensive Four Battle at Loc Ninh - an event that would change his life forever. Shot twice in battle and after hospitalizations in Japan and San Francisco, he came home with his medals and Purple Heart to an ungrateful country.
He returned to Los Angeles where he attended the prestigious Art Center College of Design, now in Pasadena. Stuart went on to become a successful award winning photographer with a long list of clients as diverse as Macy's and Cessna Aircraft.
He rode with the Ben Johnson Pro-Celebrity Rodeo, competing in cutting, reining and team penning events and in 1991 he won his trophy buckle.
After a 25 year career, he retired and with his wife Margot, moved from Sherman Oaks, CA, to the Kansas City area where he pursued his love of horses, music, history and a more simple life. He will be remembered as a faithful and loving husband, a loyal friend and a true patriot. He was a man of uncompromising character with a warrior spirit, to whom courage and honor meant everything. Though he will be deeply missed, he will live on in his beautiful photographs and in the hearts of those he left behind.
He had a favorite line from a poem ""Though you might carve in stone or wood he was honest or he was good, rather write in smoke on a passing breeze - seven words and the words are these, telling all that a volume could, he lived, he fought and he understood."" At long last Stuart has found his peace that in life was so elusive.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Margot Law Thompson of Cleveland, MO, his mother Dorothy Ausmus of Hayward, CA, his sister Helen Thompson of Bellevue, ID, his brother James Thompson of Pollack Pines, CA, and their children.
We wish to thank Hospice of The Midwest: Jan Kleithmus, Rose Credit, Marta Taylor, Kathy Stigers, Dr. William Ravenscroft and Lisa Long - his angel at the end. A special thank you to his friends Marlin Shipley and Monte Massey and his loyal and devoted best friends Carol and Glen Barnett. He was a photographer, cowboy and my hero. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Cremation. No services.