Donna Gail (Dillbeck) Simpson

Donna Gail (Dillbeck) Simpson entered into the presence of our Lord on Friday, August 13, 2021. Donna was born in Crane, Mo., on December 8, 1932, to Willis and Lillian (Young) Dillbeck. She graduated from Crane High School in 1950; she and Roy Dean Simpson were married in 1951, and moved to California, Missouri, where they have since resided. She, along with Roy, was a charter member of Main Street Baptist Church, where she served in many capacities. In May 2021, she and Roy Dean celebrated 70 wonderful years of marriage, she often fondly recalled years of child-rearing and happy times together. Donna was an accomplished seamstress; she also enjoyed knitting, cooking, baking, canning, fishing, reading, traveling, and family time. For decades, her inherent hands-on teaching abilities were enjoyed by children and youth in church camps, Vacation Bible Schools, Cub Scouts, and Sunday school; in her later years, she again utilized her teaching skills at Aurora Montessori Preschool. When their children were older, she began working outside the home. She truly enjoyed employment and made many friends wherever she worked; among her favorite jobs was manager of the Glass Shop and Woodcarving Shop at Silver Dollar City, where she consistently won window-dressing contests. Donna is remembered by family for her selflessness, creativity, generosity, her words of wisdom accompanied by her beautiful smile, and her keen sense of humor. Most importantly, she had a servant heart, loved the Lord, and loved the Word of God, Donna was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 wife and mother. She is survived by her husband Roy Dean Simpson of California, Mo.; two daughters: Angie (Jack) Lehman of California, Mo.; Pam Harbour of California, Mo.; two sons: Mike (Nancy) Simpson of Festus, Mo. and John (Rachel) Simpson of Liberty, Mo.; nine grandchildren including: Jonathan (Colby) Lehman of Tipton, Mo.; Katie Lehman (Isaac Nilges) of New York City; Betsy (Drew) Bolinger of California, Mo.; Natalie Harbour (Marty Raymo) of Osage Beach, Mo.; Shelly Simpson (Sharod Jackson) of Festus, Mo.; Katie (AJ) Stratton of St. Louis, Mo.; Jason (Jenny) Simpson of Boulder, Colo.; Jeff (Brittany) Simpson and Annie Simpson of Nashville, Tenn. She is also survived by seven great-grandsons, Willis and Thomas Lehman; Eli Stratton; Peter, Joel and Samuel Bolinger; and Bennett Raymo; and a sister, Ann (CD) Neff, of Kansas City, Mo. She was preceded in death by her parents and two childhood sisters, Norma and Betty Solomon. Visitation to be held at Windmill Ridge Funeral Service in California, Mo. on Saturday, September 11, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the California City Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the ministry arm of Donnas beloved Sunday school class: Concord Baptist Church/Morrisons Bible Study Class. Online messages to the family may be contributed at www.windmillridgefuneralservice.com.