William “Troy” Thompson, age 32, spirited away from his earthly body on May 18, 2023, in Fayetteville, AR. His love and light, shadowed by a dark mask of addiction, are now set free to shine brightly in our hearts and memories. His physical death released his soul to soar high above the fog of fear and depression, beyond the imperfect humanity that enslaved and imprisoned him here.

Troy was a reader of fantasy, thrillers, history, and philosophy. He loved to sketch, paint, cook, and garden. He loved music and working on cars. He was an excellent college student and a respected employee. And, sometimes he wasn’t. Troy could spark joy as easily as he could firebomb the playground. He charmed us with his smile, sliced us to the quick with his humor, and he had excellent manners. And then, sometimes he didn’t. He longed to love deeply and often ran away from love offered.

That is the nature of his, and millions more, of our fellow humans’ co-occurring mental illness and addiction - predatory, unreliable, and while it may appear now and then to be tamed, a deadly cannibal- beast that lurks in the shadows waiting for its host to show weakness. For many, maybe for most, it doesn’t stop hunting when it is caged or medicated. It grows bolder when shamed or shunned. It stalks silently, defying punishment and prayers, feeding on the fear of never being enough.

Troy is loved and survived by a vast and diverse blended family, including his parents and stepparents, Krissa Gray (Daniel) Gordon of Mountainburg, AR, and William (Amanda) Thompson of Climax, NC; his sister, Kandace Thompson of Fayetteville, AR, and her daughter Lily Garry; his brothers Matthew Thompson of Climax, NC, and Nathaniel Gordon of Fayetteville, AR; his grandparents, Wayne and Janice Gray of Searcy, AR, Amanda L. Gault of Ward, AR, Marion and Lou Thompson of Helena, MT, and Ann Gordon of Mountainburg, AR; his aunts and uncles, Larry and Tammy Gray and their children, Brendan, Lauryn, and Dylan; Ben and Pat Gordon, Patrick (Andrea) Gray, Darrel L. (Stacy) Gault, Michael (Sondra) Gault, Stephen (Melanie) Gault, Amanda V. Gault, William (Lidia) Gault, Luiz Gault, Robert (Dongha) Gault, Raul (Shianne) Gault, Merry Gault, Linda (Bryce) Miracle, Tammy Gault, Melinda Gault, Joseph (Susie) Gault, Emily Thompson, Amy (Matt) Grummer, and Megan Thompson, and by dozens more aunts, uncles and cousins.

Troy was preceded in death by his grandfathers Darrel Gault and Jay Gordon.

Troy was baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church in Searcy, AR, in 2019. His ashes will rest at Ramona Cemetery in Ramona, OK, beside his beloved Great Aunt Troyce. 

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