Mary Francis Simpson

Mary Francis Gist Simpson passed away December 28, 2016. She was born May 1, 1932 in Arkansas to Effie Newton and Patrick Gist (raised by her Step Dad, Ambers Jones). She met and fell in love and later married James Fleetwood Simpson on Thursday, July 25, 1946 in Tulare, California. They were happily married for 65 years and raised seven children together. Mary completed her GED in 1967. From 1968-1975 she was a nurse’s aide. In 1975 she completed her EMT certificate in the state of Missouri. In 1977, she worked for Eufaula and Checotah ambulance service along with becoming a CPR instructor, and an EKG technician. She was an EMT for 20 years and won Oklahoma EMT of the year in 1986. In 1990 she worked for city of Checotah as the Mayor’s secretary until she retired in 1994. Mary and James moved from California to Oklahoma in 1977 living in Prague, Indianola, and settling in Muskogee in 1998. Mary was a great wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed watching John Wayne westerns, cooking for her family, crocheting, and reading. She also enjoyed working in the garden and canning. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Indianola. She was always the one to take care of others before herself. Along with raising her 7 children, Mary also took care of her mother, her sister, Ruth Blackman and her brothers, Jack Jones and Oscar Simpson. She will be truly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Brenda Knoepli and Ruth Blackman; 4 brothers, Algene Gist, Jack Jones, Robert Jones and Donald Jones; her husband, James F. Simpson of 65 years; 1 son, James Patrick Simpson; and 1 daughter, Sheila Venable. She is survived by her brothers, Harold Jones and his wife Judy of Harrah, OK, and Jim Jones and his wife Diane of Boise, Idaho; sisters, Bonnie Langston of Shawnee, OK, and Darlene Churchill and her husband Winston of Del City, OK; her children, Donald Simpson Sr. and his wife Debbie of Rockford, IL, Barbra Chandler of Muskogee, OK, Richard Simpson and wife Theresa of Tulsa, OK, Robin Barnes of Watts, OK, and Tammie Simpson-Brakensiek and her husband Wayne of McAlester, OK; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many niece, nephews and other extended family. A celebration of Mary’s life will be 11:30 A.M., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Cornerstone Funeral Home Chapel with her brother, Harold Jones and her granddaughter, Tabatha Bryant officiating. Interment will follow 1:00 P.M. at Fort Gibson National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rusty Simpson, Davey Venable, Donald Simpson, Tommy Lee Hill, Jr., Rick Simpson and Wayne Brakensiek. Honorary pallbearers will be Winston Churchill, Jimmy Jones, Brett Simpson, Harold Jones, Tim Simpson and Paul Brashier.

Mary Francis Simpson

May 1, 1932 - December 28, 2016