Bradley Thompson

Bradley Dean Thompson, 79, of Sulphur, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at home on December 18, 2025, with his family by his side. He leaves behind a profound legacy of hard work, laughter, and unwavering devotion to those he loved. Born in Dallas, Texas, on August 28, 1946, to Otis and Norma Thompson, Bradley grew up with a deep-rooted love for the outdoors. A proud 1965 graduate of Sulphur High School, he was a standout athlete in football, track, and baseball, earning numerous medals in track and field. His athletic talent earned him a football scholarship to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, though his true loyalties always remained with the game itself rather than the classroom. In 1966, Bradley was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served with great distinction as a Sergeant and a Green Beret. He took immense pride in his service to his country, earning the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in ground operations against hostile forces in Vietnam (1966–1969). His commendations also included the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Parachute Badge. Following his honorable discharge in 1969, Bradley began a long and successful career as a Tankerman at PPG. Known for his integrity, problem-solving skills, and steadfast loyalty, he retired in 2005 after nearly 40 years of dedicated service. The true light of his life was his wife, Jeanette. The two met as children in Brownsville, Texas, in 1952, a childhood friendship that eventually blossomed into a lifelong romance. They married on April 13, 1968, and shared 57 wonderful years together. Whether they were shrimping, camping, or spending time at their beloved lake house on Toledo Bend in Many, Louisiana, they were inseparable. As a father, Bradley was a guiding force for his daughters, Michelle and Brandy, teaching them the values of honesty, resilience, and kindness. He took great joy in sharing his passions with them—teaching Michelle to shrimp and Brandy to fish. Known affectionately to friends as “Stickman” or “Big Bad Brad,” he was always the first to bring laughter to a room. In his later years, his greatest joy was teaching his grandsons to fish and sharing a love for dogs with his only granddaughter. A fervent fan of LSU baseball and football, Bradley was rarely seen without an LSU shirt and was a dedicated reader and sponsor of Dandy Don.

Bradley was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Norma Thompson, and his brother, Freddy Thompson.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanette Thompson; his daughters, Michelle Thompson Crawford and Brandy Thompson Mooney (Christopher); his grandchildren, Garrett Lanclos, Nathan Mooney(Natalie), Lauren Lanclos Rucka (Joshua), Jordan Crawford, Bradley Crawford, and Jacob Mooney; his great-grandson, Joshua Rucka Jr.; and his loyal dog, Sadie.

A celebration of Bradley’s life will be held at 3:00 PM on December 29, 2025, at Johnson’s Funeral Home (107 W. Napoleon Street, Sulphur, LA). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society, a cause Bradley and Jeanette supported passionately, or simply to "pay it forward" with an act of kindness in his memory.