Laura O’Neal Thompson passed away at her home, surrounded by her wife, Kim, in Sunnyvale, CA on October 30, 2023.  

Born in Memphis, Tennessee,  to Danny and Victoria Webster, Laura spent her early years close to her Aunt Peggy (Aureli) and cousins but life would take her and her (now late) Sister, Leslie to California at the age of 10 to live with their Father who had remarried Laura’s wonderful Step-Mother, Lai.   She also gained two wonderful bonus Sisters as a result: Allison and Alex.  

Her memories and fondness for the South remained, but her heart and home became Sunnyvale, California.  It was there that she formed the bonds that would last a lifetime. 

Laura always said she had neighborhood friends and school friends.  Games like ‘Hide and Seek’ happened in the neighborhood with friends, Erin, Kelly, and Neil Dougherty, whose parents she affectionately called Ma & Pa.   And at school, she met Courtney Camp (Wagner) who would become Laura’s closest confidant.  Her entire family would be Laura’s bonus family for the next 38 years.  

When it came to work, Laura started working as a youngster with a paper route, waking up before dawn and riding her bike to deliver papers. She used to say she earned the biggest tips because she made sure the papers landed perfectly by the doorsteps. Of course they did, because that was Laura - always challenging herself to do better and be better. Her life’s mantra, really.

Laura excelled in everything she put her heart and mind to. Her first love was soccer; playing Goalkeeper competitively in two leagues at the same time as well as in school. Over the course of 12 years, she broke every finger - but those were merely battle scars. She loved the game.  

As a young adult, she went back to work in restaurants, eventually landing at Chili’s Grill & Bar.  She would go on to be a Manager (known by most as Web or Webby).  In 2006 a fire occurred at her store location and she was temporarily assigned to work at the Mountain View Chili’s.  It was there that she would meet her wife, Kim, also working as a Manager and her son, Chase, just three years old.  For the next 17 years they would do life with a “Let’s go” motto seeing 17 States (many by road trip), camping, plays, concerts, vacations, lakes, and the beach - a special pastime.  

Laura’s career would change over the years to include a working relationship turned decades long friendship with the Casares Family.   It was during this time (2019) however, she would get a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, forcing her to shift focus solely on recovery.  

In the near 5 years that followed, Laura would be the example of grace and strength while she braved treatment. She smiled every day, stayed positive surgery after surgery, and most of all she didn’t let Cancer define her.  She wanted to be remembered for the life she lived and the way she loved.  It was her wish to help others get through cancer stages and most importantly, to raise awareness about colorectal cancer.  

Laura is survived by her Wife, Kim Thompson (47), son Chase Thompson (21). She is also survived by Sisters Allison Chop (Wife Ilene ), Alex Lieu (Husband Raymond), Courtney Wagner (husband Jerry), In-Laws Steve &Donna Hill, Gary & Barb Thompson, Kim & Brandon Thompson.  Nieces and Nephews Victoria (Wally), William (great nephew Liam), McKenzie, Cole, Jocelyn (Ash), Joseph (Melissa) great nephew Michael, Laurel, and Zachary. 

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