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Phyllis Simpson November 8, 1927 - January 14, 2025

Date of Funeral

January 19, 2025

Phyllis June Short Simpson, 97, formerly of Sparta, Missouri passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Phyllis was born on November 8, 1927, in Clever, Missouri, the daughter of John and Bertha Short, she was the last surviving of her six siblings. When Phyllis was very young, her family moved to Sparta. Her father had several sheep, one of her favorite jobs was to work outside with her dad, helping to sheer the wool from the sheep.

In March of 1945 Phyllis was united in marriage to George Simpson of Sparta, her husband of 66 years. Phyllis was an equal partner when working on the dairy farm and was not afraid of hard work. Before, after, and in between her farming chores, Phyllis cooked, cleaned, and sewed clothes for her children. Early on, she hauled water and heated it on the stove for the occasional bath in the galvanized tub. Years later, she felt as if she were a queen, when George installed running water and an inside toilet! No more waking mom up for a midnight trip to the outhouse with a flashlight! When her children were older, she helped get the first Christian County ambulance up and running. This was a need that had been identified for years, but a small, dedicated group of volunteers, including Phyllis, made it a reality. After Phyllis and George retired from farming, she had an opportunity to display her creativity by managing Rivers Run gallery. She enjoyed this immensely.

She is survived by four children; Sarah Simpson of Nixa; Kathy Simpson of Port Townsend Washington; Barbara Brown-Johnson and husband Ed of Springfield; Paul Simpson and wife Brenda of Springfield; and daughter-in-law Sandra Simpson of Sparta; grandchildren Shawnna Thompson, Debi Brose, Krysten Nicole, Leslie Smith, Angela Dorrough-Adamson, Matthew Simpson, Dani Simpson, David Simpson, and Cody Hedgepath; great-grandchildren  Madalyn Faucett, Vanessa Burns, Colin and Abby Joiner, and Annemarie, Cole, and Micah Smith, Seamus, Apple, and Quinn Early, and Hayden and Oliver Simpson. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, husband George and youngest son, Mike.

Memorial Funeral Services will be at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark. Visitation will start 1 hour prior at 1:00 P.M Sunday until service time in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either Fair Haven Children’s Home, or the Alzheimer Association-Greater MO Chapter. Online condolences may be shared at www.barnesfamilyfunerals.com

Condolences(2)

  1. REPLY
    Linda & leon Newberry says

    Words cannot express the depth of sorrow we feel for a loss so great and special. Your mother was a shining light in this world, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her and in the journeys she shared with others. Our lives were blessed through her friendship, her singing, her smile, and her laughter. Praying for love to bring you peace and comfort, and happy memories to forever hold in your hearts.

  2. REPLY
    Julie Williams says

    She was a wonderful person to work for. I know she will be dearly missed by family and friends. I know you will take comfort in knowing she had been reunited with George

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