Marie
Simpson, 86, passed away on August 24, 2019, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She was
born on January 9, 1933, in Buchanan, Tennessee, to J. Rufus and Hattie (Bucy)
Whitworth. On April 2, 1951, she eloped with Phillip H. Simpson, and they were
married in Corinth, Mississippi, along with her cousin Gordon Bucy and his
bride Vida. Phillip preceded her in death on June 29, 2000.
Besides her parents, she was
preceded in death by all of her siblings Charles, Brent, and Willis Whitworth,
Marcie Smith, and Hazel Hudgins, and a niece Carolyn Ellison.
She
was a mother of 4, a grandmother of 9, and a great-grandmother of 18, all of
whom survive her. Her children are Phyllis and Jerry Renfroe of Lexington,
Tennessee, Becky and Charles Frost of Bolivar, Tennessee, Mark and Paula
Simpson of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Laura and Jeff Lawless of Broken Arrow,
Oklahoma. Her grandchildren are Micah and Terri Jo Renfroe, Josh Renfroe,
Phillip and Brandi Frost, Suzanne and Jamie Mosley, Carl and Kelly Frost,
Robert and Lauren Simpson, Stephen and Megan Simpson, Jenny and Josh Gaylord,
and Adam Lawless. Her great-grandchildren were her delight: Carliee, Gracie,
and Audrey Renfroe; Samuel, Nolan, and Sarah Frost; John, William, and Joseph
Mosley; Olivia and Max Frost; Bentley and Baylor Simpson; Ellie and Easton
Simpson; Jackson, Jentry, and James Gaylord; nieces and nephews Glenda Hibbitts, David
Smith, Elaine Moore, Diane Harris, Randy Whitworth, Angela Conwell, Sheri
Vanderpool, Beverly Hughes, and Bobby Simpson. She is also survived by her dear
friends Leta and Bob Lindstrom.
In
1971, Marie and Phillip moved with their two youngest children to Poteau,
Oklahoma, where she lived for 46 years in the same house. She faithfully served
in many capacities as a member of First Baptist Church, but her heart was
working in the nursery, teaching the 2-year olds in Sunday School for 30+
years. Her dear friends in the Alma Johnson Sunday School class shared in
Christian service with her, loving and encouraging each other.
Marie
was employed at the Poteau Community State Bank for 33 years, where she was
twice honored as employee of the year. She was a teller, then later the teller
supervisor, and was a favorite among many customers. In her later years, she
also served in the bookkeeping department and answered the phone. She was
Mother Marie to her co-workers, and in her darkest moments when she lost her
beloved Phillip, they supported her. They honored her at age 77 with a
retirement party, and again with a surprise goodbye luncheon before she moved
to Broken Arrow in 2017.
Marie's
funeral will be held Wednesday, August 28, 10:00 a.m., at First Baptist Church
in Poteau, under the direction of Evans-Miller Funeral Home. Bro. Phil McGehee
will officiate and will be assisted by her grandson Bro. Micah Renfroe.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons Micah Renfroe, Josh Renfroe, Phillip Frost,
Carl Frost, Robert Simpson, Stephen Simpson, and Adam Lawless, plus Roger
Waymire who helped Marie take care of her house and yard for 17+ years after
Phillip passed away.
There
will be visitation with the family on Tuesday, August 27, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
at Evans-Miller Funeral Home.
In
lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the nursery fund of
First Baptist Church, Poteau, or any church nursery where her children and
grandchildren attend church. Marie was also passionate about supporting
veterans in memory of her brothers, and Alzheimer's and cancer research in
memory of her sisters.
