This year Kearsley celebrates the 75th anniversary of Homecoming, with the annual homecoming parade featuring the Class of 1967, the queen’s court, class floats, youth sports, and this year’s grand marshal, Mrs. Linda Thompson, former guidance secretary.

The parade starts at the Paro Educational Center at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and ends about one hour later at the high school.

When Thompson found out she was selected as the grand marshal, she said she was shocked.

“I feel very honored,” Thompson said.

Thompson has lived in the Kearsley district her whole life, and while living in the district she has attended Weston, Paro, and Buffy.

A graduate of the Class of 1969, Thompson started her career at KHS in 1986. She worked in the high school guidance office for 19 of her 28 years.

Thompson has done a lot of community activism, including acting as president of the Kearsley Lake Association and volunteering at all of the district’s school buildings.

She has been married to her husband Michael for 44 years, and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Amieè, who both graduated from KHS with high honors.

For that, Thompson said she is grateful to all of the teachers that work in the district.

“Kearsley has incredible teachers,” she said, “and if you are here for the right reason, you will get a great education.”

Since retiring in 2014, Thompson and her husband have been spending much of their time hiking and biking.

But even after being retired, Thompson said she feels like she is at home when she is at Kearsley.

“Kearsley is my family,” she said. “They have all treated me wonderful.”