Doris Stone stood in the middle of Main Street one warm spring Sunday
     afternoon making a decision that would change her life. She was agreeing
     with the Dean of Arts College of Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma,
     that yes, she would accept a shoclarship and enter Phillips as a freshman
     come fall.
       Doris grew up on the Stone palce east of Medicine Lodge, the middle child
     of George and LaVon Stone. When she fell in love with, and decided to marry
     a ministerial student, Jerry L. Thompson, from Memphis, Tennessee, whom she
     met at Phillips, her older brother, Dwight, had plenty of comment and advice,
     not all of which was accurate.
       Contrary to Dwight's authority, Southerners do not all eat possum. Doris
     did learn, however, that there are differnece. She was surprised to learn
     that a Southern "stuffed egg" is really a Kansas "deviled egg," that their
     "creamed potatoes" are just plain old "mashed potatoes," and their dumplings
     are not fluffy balls, but flat like noodles - in fact, the flatter the
     dumpling, the better the cook. She was also surprised when Jerry's mother
     asked him to "carry" her to the store (what she meant was "take"), and that
     they carry their articles home in a "poke" or "bag" never a "sack."
       Jerry had plenty to learn also - he worked on the Stone farm two summers.
     He put a pitchfork through his boot into his leg while stacking hay the very
     first day he worked. Wouldn't all that blood be sufficient reason for him
     to get off the stack and do something else? No way! Dwight kept "lifting"
     hay, Jerry had to keep "stacking." Jerry learned to plow, drill, chore,
     ad infinitum.
       After receiving their degrees from Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma,
     Doris taught school while Jerry did his Seminary work. Upon completing
     their education, Jerry became the Minister of Christian Education for a
     congregation of 2200 in Oklahoma City, where they lived 5 1/2 years. Their
     first son, Drew, was born during this time.
       Rock, the second son, was born during the 2 years they served a church
     in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
       Page, the third son, was born after Jerry joined the staff of Country
     Club Christian Church, Kansas City, Missouri, a congregation of 3800
     members and the largest Christian Church in the world.
       Jerry joined this staff in 1963 and has served this congregation for 16
     years, now as Minister of Christian Education. Doris moved from a volunteer
     position working along side Jerry 6 years ago when she became the full-time
     Director of Children's Programs.
       Drew is now a senior at Kansas State University in Architectural Engineering.
     He loves skiing, both water and snow, tennis - the "good life." He has been
     a top saleman in a leading men's clothing store in Kansas City the last two
     summers.
       Rock is a senior in high school. His interests are cars, cars, cars, also
     girls and music. Rock is a people-lover and hardly ever lets work interfere
     with enjoying people.
       Page is a 6th grader. He likes basketball, skateboards, bicycles, and
     recess. He does not like study hall, lunch room detention, and rules.
       When Jerry and Doris are not at the church working, or swimming in their
     backyard pool, they would rather be traveling. They have led over 30 tours,
     both youth and adults, to Europe, Ireland, the Soviet Union, Caribbean
     Islands, Hawaii, Mexico, and the U.S.
       Their love of people and life has prompted them to provide a home away
     from home for many - including 2 exchange students for a year each, a
     German girl and an Icelandic boy.
       Although their work requires them to serve large urban congregations, with
     a multiple staff, they all still love the country, particularly the familiar
     area around Medicine Lodge.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 454 
     Submitted by: Doris Stone Thompson