Two months to the day after my dear grandma died, Spencer, my aunt’s long time partner, unexpectedly passed away in the very same hospital. I was very grateful that I could go out to Los Angeles to support my aunt and be with my immediate and extended family. I’ll include his obituary below.
It was a very fast trip for me filled with many highlights:
A wonderful memorial for Spencer at St. Agatha. I don’t know how many more times we will all be at my grandparents’ church now that they have passed away and all our family has left that area.
- Snatching special snuggle with Sophia during funeral
- Carefree timelessness with my family
- Waiting out the LA to OC traffic with a detour for Mexican food and Starbucks for the drive home
- A slumber party at my parents’ home
- A walk through the pet store with Sophia
- A shopping trip with my sisters
- Delivering a special sewing project Mason made for Sophia
- My favorite green curry eggplant Thai meal
- Spending time with Monique while we waited for our respective flights
- A happy family when I returned home
Spencer’s Obituary
Spencer Simpson, Sr. was born on December 15, 1936 in Okolona, Mississippi to Erskine and Mary Simpson, the eldest of seven siblings: Shirley, Milton, Audrey, Marion, Curtiss and Ernest. He was raised in Mississippi until the age of 16 when he moved to Alabama to live with his Uncle Guy and Aunt Jessie. There he was a standout Point Guard on the Lanier High School basketball team and drew the attention of Oregon State University recruiters.
After graduation from Lanier High School, he took a summer job as a printer while visiting his Aunt Bernice and Uncle Ed in Los Angeles. There he found his love for business and passed on a possible college scholarship to learn a trade and go into business for himself. He was drafted into the Koran War. When he returned home, he worked in the printing industry where he suffered a work related injury. Upon receiving a financial settlement, he utilized the funds to migrate his mother, father and six siblings from Mississippi to Los Angeles, CA. It was important to him that his family be able to experience opportunities out West that Jim Crow laws in the South prevented during this time. When asked what he was most proud of in life, he responded that getting his family out of Mississippi was the most important thing he ever did as he believed it truly transformed their lives. Once in California, he purchased the family residence on Farmdale Avenue in Los Angeles where his youngest brother still lives today.
He became one of a few African American entrepreneurs in his field at that time. He ran a profitable printing business in Los Angeles and was blessed to employ two of his younger brothers, Curtiss and Ernest. In 1961 he married Arlene Boone and on July 22, 1963 they had their only child, Spencer, Jr. Being a dad was important to Spencer and he believed in passing on the value and necessity of hard work. He was extremely proud when Spencer, Jr. graduated from USC. He embraced his role as a father figure and was a strong presence in Spencer, Jr.’s life and his nieces and nephews (Renee, Denise, Alan, Gloria, Milton, Jr., Tanya, Ronald, La Shan, Tracee and Kimberly) as well as in the lives of his step daughter (Deana) and her sons (Jonathan, Joseph, Jeffrey and Jordan). Spencer’s talent for business was on further display when in the mid-80s the emergence of computers made traditional printing methods obsolete. Many small printers went out of business so Spencer remade himself overnight and started a very successful cargo trucking business. His business acuity combined with a little good fortune afforded him an early retirement. During this time he met the love of his life, Renee Dupre. With their home base in Henderson, NV, he and Renee enjoyed golfing, fishing and travelling throughout the United States and abroad.
Forever the business man, even in retirement, he started a new business as a cattle rancher on a 99 acre farm he purchased in Mississippi. He successfully ran that business until just three years ago when his health forced him to finally slow down. With Renee by his side for 30 years, Spencer enjoyed a life of adventure which was very different from his early life of hardship and struggle in the South.
In 2007, Spencer became a grandfather to his only grandchild, Reese Simpson. Spencer was very proud of Reece and would talk about him to anyone who listened. Renee often said jokingly that Reece was not only Spencer’s best friend, but his only friend. Family was also very important to Spencer. As the eldest, he felt it his right to provide his opinion on just about anything, whether it was asked for or not. Spencer enjoyed all sports, especially basketball. He was a big Los Angeles Lakers fan and a loyal USC football fan. He also enjoyed political banter and in his last years was working on a new venture related to a rare coin collection He was a business man to his core and we can all be assured that even in heaven he will be working with God on his next business venture.
Spencer Simpson Sr. passed away peacefully October 26, 2019 in Henderson, NV. He lived a blessed life and was strong and active prior to getting ill in 2019. A praying man and a God-fearing man, Spencer attended St. Thomas Church in Henderson, NV. Spencer was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Milton and Curtiss and and sister Audrey. Spencer is survived by his wife Renee, son Spencer, Jr., grandson Reece, sisters Shirley and Marion (June), brother Ernest, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
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