Carole Joyce Simpson, 99, was born in McMinnville, Ore., Dec. 20, 1923. She departed this world for the next on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.
In 1942 she married Fredrick Evans and they had one child Steven Ross Evans born in August 1943, in Walla Walla. She leaves behind her son, Steven (Connie) and three grandchildren, Ben Evans of Riverton, Wyo., Lisa Burks of Milton-Freewater, Ore., and James Walker of Lapwai. She enjoyed her great-grandchildren, Jake and Jessica Burks of Milton-Freewater, Alana Tikpuu Walker of Lapwai, and Teewis Ilpilp Walker of Portland; also her nephews, Gary (Lynn) Goss of Peoria, Ariz., and Randy Goss of Lewiston.
Although her legal name was Carole Joyce she preferred to simply be called Joy. She was in love with life. Doctors told her that scarlet fever had damaged her heart and that she could expect to die young. This may have been her inspiration to make the most of each day and she wasted no day in her nearly 100 years.
In her time on earth she loved many and was loved by almost all who knew her. Adventure was one constant addiction and she at one time or another said home was the North Cascades; Apache Junction, Ariz.; Santa Monica, Calif.; La Push, Wash.; Delta Junction, Alaska; Gold Beach, Ore.; Vancouver, Wash.; as well as Gibbon, Weston, Athena and Thorn Hollow, Ore., not necessarily in that order. The one constant was Athena where she graduated from high school in 1942 and where her father George and mother Golda Errend lived at the M.L. Watts (later Classon Adams) ranch on Pine Creek.
Between her other “homes” and adventures of hiking, climbing and floating adventures, including chasing wild horses, hunting for deer and elk and entertaining and guiding grandchildren, she almost always returned to home and friends in Umatilla County, especially Athena.
She had a weakness for the Pendleton Roundup and rode her favorite mustang, “Dusty,” in several dress-up parades. Once she was going to borrow a fancy horse and saddle and really “dress up” in a custom-cut formal riding suit. That didn’t come together and she just jumped into her rough out, well-worn Hamley and rode plain Dusty in the parade in the same denim she wore all day. After the parade she was announced the best dressed, best looking rider in the “working cowgirl” category and her prize, a Chief Joseph Pendleton blanket was presented to her.
Joy had several marriages during her lifetime. She had her best with a handsome New York Irish transplant, Thomas J. Simpson. She met Tom while working at the Oregon Bank in Portland. Tom had been a WWII pilot of a B-24 Liberator in the famous Jolly Roger squadron of the 90th bomb group in the Pacific. Tom was shot down twice over China and escaped capture twice. He was a dust pilot after the war and used his G.I. Bill benefits to become a federal highway engineer. They were happily married until his death from cancer in 1984.
Some of her best adventures were in Alaska when she was in her 60s. There she found unlimited fishing and hiking around Delta Junction where she maintained a cabin for several years. Her grandson Ben spent some time with her there. She always carried her slide-action pump 12-gauge shotgun on their trips away from the cabin. She saw grizzlies but never had to pull the trigger and she was always grateful.
Joy wore many hats with style, courage and gusto. She was a truck driver during pea and wheat harvests, a cowgirl where there was opportunity, as well as a phone operator and a bank teller. Her favorite “job” was later in life when in Athena she acted as “mom” to a large number of needy foster children. She had to undergo a lot of education and training for this but she had enough life experience to really provide the needed blend of dedication, discipline and honest affection to help. There remain many adults today who remember and still refer to her affectionately as “Mom” or simply Joy.
She failed to heal her broken collarbone and was bound to wheelchair living and an inevitable general decline. She breathed her last on Sunday, Dec. 3, believing faithfully in her Christ-centered religion that this last adventure would be her best ever. She is remembered by the Brookdale staff as tough and stubborn but stylish and fun. She lived her life of adventure.
Joy’s funeral will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home, 1711 18th St., Lewiston. Burial will take place in May at the Athena Cemetery, in Athena.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Monday, December 11, 7:00 PM
- Location
-
Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home
1711 18th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
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