Viola Montez Cooksey Thompson

Viola Montez Cooksey Thompson passed away at home, peacefully entering into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on August 9, 2026. She was ninety-nine years old.

Montez is survived by son David William Thompson (Nancy); daughter Esther Louise Colas (Kevin); son Donald Frederick Thompson (Miriam); daughter Margery Lee Gowler; son Alan Rogers Thompson; daughter Sara Frances Malone (George); along with 18 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death was her father William Jackson Cooksey, who served as a Private First Class in Lima Company, 141st Infantry Brigade, 36th Infantry Division during World War One; mother Annie Verna Rogers Cooksey; brothers Clinton and Arnold Cooksey; husband David Goodrich Thompson; son Martin Goodrich Thompson; and daughter-in-law Connie Kirby Thompson (son David).

Montez was born in Seminary, Mississippi (Jones County) on June 15, 1927. The daughter of a sharecropper farmer, she preferred to work in the fields picking cotton rather than staying at home and doing housework. During her early years Montez and her family were not frequent church attenders; however, they attended the annual week-long revival meetings. It was at one of these revivals, at the age of eight, that Montez put her trust in Jesus Christ. By age eleven, she was able to attend church on her own.

Childhood found Montez and her family frequently moving, requiring attendance at many schools; she finished her school career at Jones County Agricultural High School in 1946. Following high school, Montez worked as a missionary for the Baptist church’s State Sunday School board, primarily with Vacation Bible School.

The following summer, Montez met friend Mary Nelson, who worked in Washington, DC for the Department of the Navy. Mary asked Montez to travel with her to DC to find work for the summer. Montez gathered the $50 necessary for the trip and left Mississippi for the first time in her life. Once in Washington, DC, she found work in the cafeteria of The Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Montez went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from American University in Washington, DC.

In 1950, Montez met the love of her life, David Goodrich Thompson, whom she married on October 11, 1953, in Washington, DC. After time in DC, David and Montez moved to Maryland, first in College Park and then to Silver Spring, where they lived for 35 years. After marriage, they soon welcomed the first of seven children. While raising her growing family, Montez remained active in church; she taught Sunday school, participated in the Bible Memory Association program, and taught Bible studies to women. Outside of church responsibilities, Montez worked as an Avon Lady, a clerk at JCPenney, and then took a job as a computer programmer with Vitro Labs, a major defense contractor for the United States government. During her time with Vitro, she earned a Master of Science degree in System Management from the University of Southern California.

In 1998, Montez and David retired to a beloved family cottage on Torch Lake, in Rapid City, Michigan. Following ten years at the lake, and due to David contracting cancer, the couple moved to the home of daughter Margie in Lone Tree, CO. David passed away on March 17, 2008; Montez remained with Margie for five years and then moved to her son David’s farm in Burlington, WI. Nine years on the farm ended with her move back to CO, this time with daughter Esther, in Arvada. During these stays with her children, she was able to regularly see many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; these were good years with family.

It was after nearly four years with Esther when Montez’s health began to decline. She stayed active despite her limitations, attending church every week up to only two weeks before her passing. In her final days, Montez was surrounded by many family members who came to read to her, sing with her, and care for her personal needs. The family’s prayer was that she would pass into eternity peacefully at home; the Lord honored that prayer when Montez took her final breath on the morning of August 9, 2026.

There will be a private family service for Montez; however, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations can be made to the Grace Church building fund (30623 Plank Road, Burlington, WI 53105), the Forcey Bible Church missions fund (2130 E. Randolph Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904), or the Alliance Defending Freedom (adglegal.org/support/donate).