Argus :: Obits :: Helen Thomson

Helen Louise Pomeroy Thomson, 97, of Table Grove died Oct. 28, 2026, at The Elms in Macomb.

She was born in Fulton County on Nov. 28, 1928, a daughter of Clyde Arthur Pomeroy and Myrtle Mae Cluney Pomeroy. She married William Edward Thomson and had three daughters, Persephone Ann (and Michael) Paxton, Cindy Renee Thomson and Cynthia Louise (and Keith) Krohe; one brother, Donald Lloyd (and Darlene) Pomeroy; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; and one sister, Betty June (and Donald) Hawkins.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse, with a hand fired furnace and outdoor bathrooms. That was a time before school buses when children walked to country schools. By the 1940s 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. She was a fashion model for Block and Kuhl’s in Peoria 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 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 and William’s early theatre experience being traded for a Farm Implement Dealership, the couple made their home in Table Grove. She was 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 Treasurer. She was a 60 plus years member of the PEO Sisterhood, an organization that promotes higher education for women.

She became involved in the National Rural Community Arts movement that began in the 1960s. 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 during this time.

She 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 WIU’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, Ohio, 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.

Her 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. She 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.

Services were held Monday, Nov. 2, at the Table Grove Community Church in Table Grove with Pastor Tim Lindsay officiating. Burial was in the Harris Cemetery in Table Grove. Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials in her memory may be made to the Table Grove Community Church or the Table Grove Fire and Rescue Department.