Zella Bernice Thompson

Zella Bernice Thompson, 88, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2025 at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield.

Visitation for family and friends will be 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Funeral services celebrating her life will follow at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Memorials may be made to EveryStep Hospice.

Bernice was born November 14, 1936, the daughter of John and Ruth (Downey) Copeland. She married Donald Clarridge, December 9, 1956. They later divorced. She then married Claude “Tommy” Thompson, April 15, 1977 in Unionville, Missouri. He preceded her in death January 11, 2021.

Bernice worked in bookkeeping for most of her working life. While in Texas, she worked the Army Air Force Exchange Service in Dallas, Texas.

Bernice loved camping and traveling, and enjoyed genealogy. Together, Bernice and Tommy were members of the JayCo Club, and thoroughly loved traveling to Colorado and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Mark (Susan) Clarridge of Story City, Iowa and Christina Clarridge of Grand Prairie, Texas; step-daughter, Nancy Thompson of Ottumwa; grandchildren, Andrew and Spencer Clarridge; Nathan and Tyler Wright, Shane Moore, Rachel Alters, Buddy Wedlake, Courtney Templeton, and Allison Wilbanks; great-grandchildren, Kelsie, Makenzie, Dillan, Logan, Walter Lee “Buddy”, and Colton; siblings, Carroll Copeland, Darrell Copeland, Carolyn Pool, and Rita Copeland, all of Fairfield, Larry Copeland of Libertyville, Donna Vice of Agency, and Rosalie Rodgers of Ottumwa.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Cyndra Templeton; son, Hal Clarridge; and brothers, Wayne and John Copeland.