Edmond “Tooter” Ray Thompson
June 15, 1951 - April 17, 2023

On April 17, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. we had to bid farewell to our loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend Edmond Ray Thompson (better Known as “Tooter”). Tooter passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka.

Tooter was born on June 15, 1951 in Ouachita, Louisiana and he moved to McKinleyville at the age of 3 with his mother and four siblings. He spent most of his childhood hunting, fishing, skating and riding bikes with friends. In 1970 at around age 19 he began working for Simpson Timber Company pulling green chain until eventually operating a forklift; which remained his position until he retired at the age of 62 in June of 2013.

Through a majority of his adult life Tooter spent his time away from work hanging at the local bars acting somewhat rowdy with his brothers and pals brawling with any and all who came knocking for trouble. He also enjoyed fishing the ocean very much for halibut, lingcod, rockfish, salmon, etc… pretty much if you can name it he liked to catch it. He would even make a few trips to Alaska to chase the halibut and salmon of the last frontier. Tooter was also very passionate about hunting each season: stomping through the woods or driving through the hills with his son, nephews, and pal Danny searching for that next buck to fill the freezer. In his later years these drives would come to be his favorite pastime and he loved every minute he spent off the grid just searching for wildlife.

In 1979 Tooters daughter Toni was born. Then in 1980 he married the love of his life, his wife Tina, and his son Jared was born in 1989. Soon after the birth of his son his rowdy ways mellowed and he focused on spending time with family and teaching his son those life lessons that his son still uses to this day.

Tooter was preceded in death by his mother Adele, sister Olafey, and four brothers Hilton, Connie, Morris, and Donald. He is survived in death his brother Wayne, his three sisters Wander, Gloria, and Imagene, his wife Tina, son Jared, Daughter Toni, Granddaughters Meghan, Nicole, and Krista, and multiple nephews nieces in laws and many, many friend around the county and afar. If you knew Tooter his friends were his family as well.

There will be a small celebration of life potluck at the Moose Lodge in McKinleyville on June 10, 2023 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the picnic area in the back. All are welcome so come pay your respects, bid your farewell, and have a good time remembering Tooter for the wonderful person he truly was.

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