Iris Ray Thompson went to be with her beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 11, 2017.  She was a dedicated servant of Jesus all her life, after being saved at a very young age.  She was the 10 ^th of 11 children born to Robert E. Lee Ray and Magdalene (Maggie) Chambers Ray.  Born on Rum Creek in Logan County, on June 30, 1922, Iris moved to Wyoming county as a young girl (about age 14).  She went to cousin Wiley Bower's farm on Bowers Ridge which is the current site of Twin Falls State Park.  Iris frequently said the time on Bowers Ridge was some of her happiest memories, forming close life-long friendships with cousins Sally Bower Neal and Theresa Houck Thompson.

During school time she stayed with Wiley Bower's daughter Lucy and her husband George Ballard who managed Pinecrest Sanitarium in Beckley, WV.  She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, as the Salutatorian of the class of 1941, where she was chosen as the "Most Athletic Girl" in her senior class.

She married Vance "Red" Thompson and settled in Mullens, WV, where she raised 3 sons, Steven, David, and Joel Richard (Dick).  After her children were raised, Iris became an LPN and worked at the Mullens Hospital Emergency Room for many years.

After her husband Red died in 1983, she moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, to be near her son, Dr. J.R. (Dick) Thompson and his family, and lived there for the next 23 years.  She worked with Dick at his Endoscopy Center at the Grand Strand Medical Center for several years, and finished her career at age 75, at Myrtle Beach Manor Nursing Home.

She moved back to her beloved West Virginia in 2007, settling in Monroe County where her maternal family (Chambers) originally settled, near Peterstown, WV in 1780.

Iris was predeceased by her husband Red, and her son Steven.  She is survived by son David and his wife Evelyn of Marie, WV, and son Dick and his wife Elaine of Myrtle Beach, SC and Greenville, WV, nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Iris was greatly loved by all who knew her and was especially adored by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She was a life long church attender and was a member of Countryside Baptist Church, in Forest Hill, WV, at the time of her death.She was constantly humming hymns as she went about her work.  She had a beautiful voice and loved singing for the Lord.

A funeral service will be held on January 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Countryside Baptist church, with her son David Thompson and Dr. James Blume officiating.  Visitation will also be at the church, starting at 11:30 am until time of service.  Burial will immediately follow at the Mountain View Community Church Cemetery, at Elgood, WV.

Online condolences at www.pivontfuneralhome.com Arrangements by Pivont Funeral Home, Hinton, WV