Jimmie Lee Simpson

Jimmie Lee Simpson, 74, of Nevada, passed away on Friday, May 4, 2008, at Moore-Few Care Center, following a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 21, 1934, in Nevada, to Charlie Floyd Simpson and Minnie Elmira Brown Simpson. He married Valma M. Harper, on Oct. 12, 1956, in El Dorado Springs, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 20, 2006. He devoted six year of his life taking care of Valma until her time of death.

Jimmie graduated from Nevada High School and served in the Marine Corps for three years from 1953-1956. While in the Marines, he was stationed in Korea, Japan and South Carolina. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 2, and also a lifelong member of the Carpenter's Union.

Jimmie worked for Snyder Bridge Company, in Joplin, for 37 years until his retirement. He also worked numerous jobs such as tree trimming, roofing houses, carpentering, cutting firewood, mowing yards and picking pecans. He was always busy doing something. His hobbies were fishing, hunting, woodworking and refinishing antiques, but most of all, he enjoyed going to garage sales and flea markets with his wife, Valma, and their dog, Cuddles, who was just like one of their children. Jimmie and Valma loved having their grandchildren and great-grandchildren around. He was a very loving, caring and hard working husband, father, grandfather and brother who will be missed dearly by all.

Survivors include: five children, Debbie Spencer and her fiancé Mark Smith, Janet Day and her husband David, Bruce Simpson and his wife Kelly, David Simpson and his wife Grace, and Mike Simpson, all of Nevada; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; one brother, Carl Simpson and his wife Sharron, of Stockton; three sisters, Wilma Hendrix and her husband Gordon, of Nevada, Reva Fanning, of Nevada, and Anna Louise Collins and her husband William, of California; plus numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Ralph, Roy, Floyd and Clyde Simpson; three sisters, Marie Anderson, Stella Fanning Hauf and Ida Belle Smith; and two nieces, Sherry Hendrix and Donna Day Fanning Overton.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 5, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with John Nichols officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in Moore Cemetery, in Nevada. Friends may call now and until the hour or service and the family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.

Those who wish may contribute in his memory to the American Cancer Society or Heartland Hospice, of Butler, in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.