Jessica Thompkins

Jessica Renee (Travis) Thompkins was born on August 24, 1984, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and was a devoted mother whose family was central to her life. Those who knew her remembered Jessica for a ready laugh, an easy way of lighting up a room, and small joys—reading, music, movies, and a well-earned fondness for shoes. Family notices identify her as a daughter of Dale and the late Martina (Luna) Travis and list several brothers and sisters who shared close bonds and frequent conversations that she treasured.

Jessica’s deepest pride was her role as a mother to four children, named in family memorials, and friends noted how much she cared for them. She also valued the supportive relationships in her life, and the funeral notice expresses the family’s appreciation for Phillip “PJ” Banka and his connection with Jessica and her children.

Public records and local reporting document the tragedy of her death in March 2015; those facts are part of the public record but do not define the life Jessica led. What endures in the community remembrance is the ordinary, human warmth she offered—her laugh, her attention to family, and the everyday comforts she enjoyed. Her family organized a rosary and mass in Alamogordo, and asked that remembrances support her children.

While the public record contains details about the legal aftermath of the event, this remembrance focuses on Jessica’s life: a woman of Alamogordo who loved her family fiercely, enjoyed simple pleasures, and is recalled by relatives and neighbors for her kindness and presence. In place of long lists of loss, those who loved Jessica continue to honor the small, bright parts of her life and the children she raised, keeping her memory in stories, photographs, and quiet family gatherings.