CONNEAUT —
Merritt Leonard Simpson Jr. passed away the evening of Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at the age of 81.
He was born in Conneaut on Dec. 21, 1930, to Grace (Blood) and Merritt L. Simpson and was a lifelong resident. Depending on your connection to him, he was known to others by various names: Merritt, Leonard, Lenny, “Simp” or Junior.
Leonard grew up in East Conneaut and graduated from Rowe High School in 1950. He married his wife of 61 years, Barbara Jean (Williams) on Dec. 16, 1950.
After marriage, they moved to Amboy where he served as a volunteer with the Amboy Fire Station. During his adult years he was chiefly employed by General Electric, from which he retired in 1988. However, he also worked for Premix when it first started as a shop on Chestnut St., hauled gravel and worked at TransPlastics, sometimes holding two or more jobs at once.
Leonard proudly served his country as part of the Occupation Army in Germany from 1952-1953, as a turret gunner in the tank “Blood & Guts”. He was a Cpl. with Tank Company 12th Infantry Regiment. He was very proud to be a long time member of Conneaut Evergreen Masonic Lodge #22. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite of the Valley of Cleveland.
Leonard was an active, lifelong member of the United Methodist Churches, attending East Conneaut, Amboy and First UMC, where he served as a trustee and usher.
Leonard had no patience for sitting- he always needed to be busy, especially outdoors. His wife called him a “frustrated farmer”, who raised Hereford cattle but also had sheep, chickens, geese, pigs and horses at times, as well as an extensive garden at his Amboy home mini-farm. He especially enjoyed the many dogs he owned during his life. He often roped the whole family into his farming escapades, such as ‘haying’ several times each summer, or helping deliver a calf during the annual July 4th family picnic!
Leonard liked to putter and tinker. He thoroughly enjoyed all his farm machinery and vehicles. He loved driving his tractors, and for many years could be seen on the road on either a bicycle or his Honda Gold Wing 1000. He also initiated a dynasty of Jeep owners in his family. His other toys included a snowmobile, dune buggy and motor boat, which he used in teaching family members how to water ski on Lake Erie. Another proud accomplishment was rebuilding the 1860’s house next door to his home.
Once there were grandchildren, Leonard and Barbara generously took the children on adventures like whitewater rafting, and on numerous trips around the United States, in their conversion van. His theme song was “On the Road Again”. He also liked to show off for them his particular talent of successfully riding a bicycle while sitting backwards on the handlebars!
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, David (Pam) Simpson; daughter, Terry Simpson; and grandchildren, Mathew (Kim) Helfinstine, Mindy (Jeremy) Bisbee, Jennifer (Joel Specht) Simpson, Beth Simpson and Neil (Jennifer Lyn) Simpson. Surviving great-grandchildren are Alissa Bertolasio, Grace Bisbee, Jaden Helfinstine, Jamie Robson and Nikki Robson. Leonard is also survived by sisters, Evelyn Nichols of Kansas and Arlene Norris of California; and brother, Larry Simpson of Conneaut.
Funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 10th, at MARCY FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION CENTER, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, with Pastor Jan Walsh, of New Leaf United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memory Gardens, North Kingsville, Ohio.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., TODAY, Feb. 9th, at the Funeral Home, with Masonic Services being conducted at 7:30 p.m. by Evergreen Lodge #222 F & AM.
Contributions may be made to OMH Memory Care Capital Campaign. The Ohio Masonic Home Memory Care Centers, dedicated to the care for Masons with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Obituary and condolences at www.marcyfuneralhome.com and starbeacon.com.
Obituary Archives
Related Photos
-
Merritt L. Simpson Jr.
Guest Book
Merritt L. Simpson Jr.
- Obituary Archives
-
-
Anthony F. Laveck
Anthony F. Laveck, age 85, a resident of Ashtabula, Ohio, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at the Ashtabula County Nursing Home following a short illness.
-
Mabel J. Erb
Mabel J. (Wheeler) Erb, age 88, of Ashtabula, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
-
Gwenllian J. Thompson
Gwenllian J. Thompson, age 75, of Dorset, Ohio, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at the St. Joseph Emergency Center in Andover, Ohio.
- Joseph H. Koch Joseph H. Koch, age 84, of Madison, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2012, at Cardinal Woods Nursing Home. He was a former resident of Painesville and Ashtabula.
-
DAVID E. DAVIS IV
David Edward Davis IV, 44, of SR 7, Pierpont, died unexpectedly Friday, May 25, 2012, at UH-Geneva Medical Center.
-
FLORENCE A. GIANNELLI LASSEN
Florence A. (Giannelli) Lassen died at St. Mary Manor, Lansdale, Pa., on Friday, March 2, 2012.
-
Lillian M. Weagraff
Lillian Marguerite “Dit” Weagraff, age 91, of E. 21st St., passed away Thursday, May 24, 2012, at Saybrook Landing.
-
YOST J. BYLER
Yost J. Byler, 91, of Middlefield Township, died Thursday, May 24, 2012, at home.
-
DOROTHY V. BODNAR
Dorothy V. Bodnar, 93, of Stow and formerly of Madison, died Friday, May 25, 2012.
-
MAXINE E. SMITH
Maxine E. Smith, 92, of Andover, Ohio, died Friday, May 25, 2012, at UPMC Horizon Hospital in Greenville, Pa.
- Janice M. Clark Janice Mirabell Clark, age 74, of Ivins, Utah, passed away Sunday, May 20, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nev.
-
Anthony Sugar
Funeral Mass for Anthony Sugar, age 28, of Willowick, will be at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 26th, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 29840 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe.
-
FRED LENART
Fred Lenart, 91, formerly of Rock Creek, Ohio, died Sunday, March 25, 2012. Fred served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII.
-
FLORENCE J. NELSON
Florence J. Nelson (nee: Marason), 81, of Hambden Township, Ohio, died Thursday, May 24, 2012,at UH-Geauga Medical Center, Claridon Township.
-
MABEL J. ERB
Mabel J. Erb, 88, of Saybrook Township, died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at Rae-Ann Geneva Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
- Ralph R. Miller Ralph Raymond Miller, age 85, of Lynchburg, died Sunday, May 20, 2012. He was the husband of Jean Kubicek Miller for almost sixty-four years and was a member of Heritage Baptist Church.
-
Veva M. Jeppe
Veva M. Jeppe, age 89, of Medina since 1999, formerly of Geneva, died Tuesday, May 21, 2012, at Grace Hospital in Lakewood.
-
SHARON K. POST
Sharon K. Post, 68, of Madison, Ohio, died Monday, May 21, 2012, in Madison, Ohio.
-
Almeda Niemi
Almeda Niemi, age 92, of Andover, Ohio, died Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at Windsor House at Champion.
-
Florence A. Giannelli Lassen
Florence A. (Giannelli) Lassen passed away peacefully at St. Mary Manor, Lansdale, Pa., on Friday, March 2, 2012.
- More Obituary Archives Headlines
-
