Helen Louise Pomeroy Thomson

Helen Louise Pomeroy Thomson, 97, of Table Grove, IL passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at The Elms in Macomb, IL.

She was born in Fulton County, Illinois on November 28, 1928 to Clyde Arthur Pomeroy and Myrtle Mae Cluney Pomeroy. She felt her greatest achievements were her sixty year marriage to the love of her life, William Edward Thomson and the births of their three daughters, Persephone Ann (and Michael) Paxton, Cindy Renee Thomson, and Cynthia Louise (and Keith) Krohe; four grandchildren, Ryan (and Olivia) Paxton, Christopher Paxton, Steve (and K) Paxton, and Lauren (and Zeke) Meehan; and six great grandchildren, Ava Paxton, Jolene Paxton, Maren Paxton, Gavin Paxton, James Paxton, and Nathan Meehan.

Also very special persons in her life were her only brother, Donald Lloyd (and Darlene) Pomeroy and only sister, Betty June (and Donald) Hawkins.

She was preceded in death by her Husband, Parents and Sister.

Born on the eve of the Great Depression, Helen attended a one room school house, with a hand fired furnace and outdoor bathrooms. That was a time before school buses when children walked to country schools. By the 1940’s the school bus had come into being and country children were picked up along the highway and driven to the newly organized Lewistown Community High School which allowed Helen to be a graduate of the Class of 1946.

She attended the Lillie Finishing School for Girls and never passed up an opportunity to further her education which became a lifetime endeavor. Her early career found her working at the Home Office for State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington, Illinois. She was a fashion model for Block and Kuhl’s in Peoria, IL and Mel Beck’s Fashions of New York City when they brought their samples to the Fashion Marts in Chicago. It was this time in her life when a William E. Thomson returned to Illinois after having spent a decade in the theater in New York City following his graduation from the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.

The Thomson Family farm being located near Table Grove, IL and William’s early theatre experience being traded for a Farm Implement Dealership, the couple made their home in Table Grove. Helen was always active in community affairs serving as secretary for the Parent Teacher Association when the new High School building opened its doors. She became a member of the Table Grove Community Church and served as Church Clerk for her first 12 years while teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and throughout her lifetime she served as Moderator, Trustee and Treasure. She was a sixty+ years as a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an organization that promotes higher education for women.

She became involved in the National Rural Community Arts movement that began in the 1960’s. She was appointed by Governor Thompson to serve on the Community Arts Panels of The Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency. She assisted in the development of Local Art Councils in the State and auditing of distributed government funds. She was an adjunct professor in the Fine Arts Dept. at Western Illinois University acting as Executive Director of their newly formed seven county outreach arts program; “The Two Rivers Arts Council”. She was appointed by Governor Thompson to the commission to Study the effects of Tourism. She was also the Executive Director of the Shad Hill Arts and Culture Center in Farmington, IL during this time.

Helen was a long-time member of the Fulton County Arts Council, Galesburg Civic Arts Center; Illinois Art League: Peoria, and Two Rivers Regional Arts Council. She served on the Spoon River College Foundation board of directors and served as Chairman of the Board. She was listed on the Spoon River College Speakers Roster for many years. Upon enrolling in an adult art course under the direction of Dr. Louise Wood, Helen discovered a latent art talent. She continued formal art studies under W.I.U.’s Art Professor, Dr. Gifford Loomer; extended art studies under the University of Illinois. She received a diploma from the North Light Art School, Cincinnati, OH, recommending that she become a portrait painter. Her portraits do keep turning up in different institutions with one making its way to Austria. She furthered her art studies under New York Portrait Artist, John Howard Sanden of the New York Portrait Institute; national renowned artist James Goodwin Scott; watercolorist Nita Engle; and Pastelis’ Albert Handel.

Helen’s artworks are recognized in the publications: “American Artist of Renown” Wilson Pub. Co, 1980-81 and “Artists of Illinois”, Publication of “Artist of America” Inc. 1995. Through the years of entering competitive art shows she won many awards. Helen was included in the Marquis Who’s Who of American Women 2000 and Marquis Who’s Who in America 54th Edition 2000. In 2017 she was awarded a Marquis Life Time Achievement award for her many years of service.

One of Helen’s great joys was attending her Father’s Family Reunion with her daughter Cindy in Totnes England in 2000. She lived a long and happy life.