Afton Thompson

Afton Burnside Thompson

April 16, 1937 – March 6, 2021

Afton Burnside Thompson, our loving Mom, passed from this life and was reunited with her sweetheart, our Dad, Frank on March 6, 2021.  She was 83.  Afton was born April 16, 1937 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Samuel David Burnside and Lucille Reese Burnside.  Mom spent her early childhood in Salt Lake.  Her family moved to Provo where she attended school, graduating from Provo High School in 1955.  Following high school, she attended and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education and psychology.

It was at BYU that she met the love of her life, Frank Thompson.  She waited for him to finish his two-year army enlistment and the two were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1959.  Following their graduations from BYU the couple made their home in Byron, Wyoming, where Frank had been hired to teach and coach.  Bart, Andy, and Laura, the couple’s three oldest children, were born while the family was in Byron.  In 1967, the family moved to Kaysville, Utah where Frank taught and coached at Davis High School.  Teri, the youngest of their four children was born later that year.  Afton devoted herself to her family and children.  She was always there for us, in our successes and our difficult times.  There was no question she loved us, even when “disagreements” arose there was never any doubt of her deep love for us or Dad.  Throughout her life, she made a tremendously positive difference in our lives.

When all of us, her children, were in school, she renewed her teaching credential and took assignments as a long-term substitute at Kaysville Elementary School.  All of we children, except Bart, got to have Mom as their schoolteacher, at least for a time.  When offered full-time positions, she turned them down to have the freedom to support us.  Mom always made time for us.  Mom loved to “just talk” with us about whatever we wanted to talk about.  We’ll miss “just talking” with Mom.

Mom is a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She has served in many capacities in the Church, including Relief Society President in the Kaysville 8th Ward.  We remember many delicious meals heading out the door to someone or a family in need.  She also served in several primary presidencies in Wyoming and Utah.  We learned the importance and blessings of selfless service from Mom’s example.  Mom and Dad served as ordinance workers in the Bountiful, Utah Temple.  We got to share Mom and Dad with the missionaries in the California Riverside Mission while Mom and Dad served a full-time mission there.

Mom and Dad moved to Layton, Utah in 2012.  Mom resided briefly at Whisper Cove Assisted Living in Kaysville prior to her passing.

Mom has dearly missed Dad since his passing in September 2020; it was a sweet reunion to be sure.  One of the best gifts they have given us, is their love for one another.

Mom is survived by us, her four children, Bart (Kristi), Andy (Angie), Laura Williams (Jeff), and Teri Astle (Robert); 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her brother Ralph Burnside (Nellene).  She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Frank Thompson, her parents, Samuel and Lucille Burnside, and her sister, Norma Larson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Road.  Friends may visit family Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.  Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 No. Fairfield Road, Layton, UT.

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