Stella Mae Thompson, 101, of Pittsburg, KS died Thursday Oct. 1, 2026, at the Comfort Care Home of Pittsburg.

She was born Feb. 10, 1925, in Mulberry, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Vida (Allen) Begley.

She attended Lakeside grade school & Junior High, and then graduated from Pittsburg High with the Class of 1943.

On June 4, 1949, she was united in marriage to William C. Shaffer in Latrobe, PA; he preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 1986. She later married Rex A. Thompson on Oct. 6, 1988, in Carthage, MO; he also preceded her in death on April 17, 1992.

Stella started her working career as a telephone operator in Latrobe, PA from 1946 until 1952, at that time she switched her focus to full-time homemaker and the raising of three children. Later in life she worked as a cashier at Ron’s IGA for 18 ½ years retiring in 2014.

Church membership was held at the Community of Christ Church in Pittsburg.

Survivors include a daughter Sandra S. Shaffer of Olathe, KS, a son William Kelly Shaffer of Pittsburg, a step-daughter Barbara (Ron) Rhodes of Pittsburg, a son-in-law Leo Gilmore of Montgomery, TX, eight grandchildren: William D. Shaffer, Josh Gilmore, Samantha (Logan) Gilmore Metzger, Drew, Matt & Tim Rhodes, Kelly Thompson and Abby Graham.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, a daughter Nancy L. Gilmore and a step-son Thomas W. “Tommy” Thompson.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening. Memorials may be made the SEK Humane Society; these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg.