Lawrence Monroe Thompson, known as “Sonny Boy” and “Larry,” died on Dec. 19, 2009 in Redding, Calif. Larry was born Sept. 4, 1938, at Upper Lake Rancheria, Upper Lake, Calif.
He is survived by his sisters and brothers, Patricia A. Thompson, Jeanette Holder, Marion C. Quitiquit, Luwana F. Quitiquit, Steven D. Quitiquit, Cheryl A. Anderson, Godfrey D. Quitiquit, Wanda A. Quitiquit, Denise A. Quitiquit, Lalaine A. Quitiquit, Michael W. Quitiquit, Robert D. Quitiquit and Irenia A. Quitiquit; and many, many nieces and nephews.
Larry was predeceased by his mother, Marie Boggs Quitiquit of Robinson Rancheria, Nice, Calif; father, Hensley “Ike” Thompson of Upper Lake, Calif; stepfather, Clara A. Quitiquit of Stockton, Calif.; and brothers Ludwig, Gregory and Adrian Quitiquit. Larry was the grandson of the late Lydia Thompson Sleeper, who was born at Big Valley and was a prominent basketweaver.
Larry grew up in Stockton in the agricultural area of Union Island along the Middle River of Clifton Court Bay. Like his brothers, he learned to be an expert fisherman and boatman.
Larry served a big part in the 1969 Indian occupation of Alcatraz Island where he captained the boat transporting people from San Francisco Pier No. 40 to the island. Larry was the only Indian who knew how to drive and handle the care of the boat which was donated by the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. Larry safely transported many of the celebrities and Indians from all over the nation to the island. He even participated in the rescue of a family whose boat capsized in the San Francisco Bay.
After Alcatraz Island, Larry was married for a time to Laura [Nomellini] and lived for several years in Stockton, finally settling in Redding.
Services will be held at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapels in Anderson, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at 1 p.m.
For more information, call 530-365-5466.
