Jessica Dawn Thompson

Jessica Dawn Thompson, age 29 of Mesa, Arizona, returned to her heavenly home on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, after more than a decade long battle with depression. Despite only living 29 years, she influenced so many and touched all she met.

Jessi was born in Mesa, AZ on February 26, 1994, to Jerry and Lisa Thompson. She was the second daughter in the family and was so welcomed and loved when she arrived on that cold February day. Her big sister Josie was elated to finally have a little sister to play with. At a very early age, Jessi made us all laugh at her quirky personality, her original one-liners, and the games she would invent to play with her sisters. She absolutely adored her Hale cousins and looked forward to Sunday nights at Grandma Hale’s house each week so she could play with them, have homemade ice cream, and eat one of her favorite treats, Aunt Sheri’s chocolate chip brownies.

Jessi had a happy childhood. She spent the early part of her life enjoying activities with her family such as attending sporting events, participating in many church activities and service projects, taking art classes, swimming lessons, piano lessons, going on family vacations to Reno and Idaho to visit cousins, camping with her Thompson cousins in the Pinal mountains, and playing with all her neighborhood friends. Early on she developed a sharp sense of humor and a clever dry wit that will be greatly missed. As she got older, the friends she made in high school and in her young adult years became an integral part of her life.

As her mother, I always admired Jessi for being who she truly wanted to be, regardless of what anyone thought. Jessi was fun-loving. She had her own unique sense of style. She loved music, art, photography, learning the saxophone, Pink Floyd, experimenting with hair styles and color (blue hair was her favorite), longboarding and spending time with her family. Her pride and joy in life, however, were her two snakes, Penny and Ghost.

Jessi attended Irving and Johnson Elementary Schools and Taylor Jr. High then graduated from Mesa High in 2012. Jessi had a drive to accomplish what was important to her. After graduation she moved to Provo, UT for a semester then moved back to Mesa and attended MCC. She worked hard and was so proud to earn her associate degree. School never came easy for her, so we were ecstatic and so very proud of her when she graduated from MCC. She fought long and hard to get there and it was a lifelong accomplishment. She also had a goal to have a nice car, so she saved her money diligently for a couple of years and paid cash for her 2015 black Camaro convertible. She was proud of the fact that she paid for the car herself and she had every right to be.

Although we are all filled with an indescribable sorrow and will miss her deeply, we take comfort in knowing that she is now in heaven with so many loved ones who have preceded her in death. Throughout her life, Jessi’s light and influence were far-reaching, and she will be greatly missed by many. Jessi leaves behind a legacy of love for her family, kindness to others, and a fierce devotion to her friends. Nothing can describe our love for her. Our hearts are hurting now, but we will wait patiently until we meet again and can throw our arms around her in a huge embrace. She left us instructions to put something very unique on her headstone which we will happily comply with: “Shine On you Crazy Diamond!” If you’re a real music lover, you will know where that came from!

Jessi is survived by her family who loved her beyond comprehension. She left behind her parents, Jerry O. Thompson, Lisa (Hale) Thompson, two brothers and three sisters, James, Reagan, Josie, Jacque (Brown), and Jordan. Her Celebration of Life will be held this Thursday night, September 28, 2023, at the Latter-Day Saint Stake Center at 4640 E. Holmes Mesa, AZ from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The funeral will be the following morning, September 29, at 11:00 am at the same location. Flowers can be sent to Bunker’s Garden Chapel (33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201).

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com . Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com , please check our website for accurate details and service information.