Obituary of Vernice C Simpson

Born March 29, 1934, in Astoria, Oregon to Mary (Ludwig) & Donovan Vernon (Bill) Hoy, Vernice was raised in the community of Knappa, Oregon before moving to Portland at age of 8 with her older sister Phyllis (McIntyre). Vernice loved to tell her stories and about playing with the little girl (Katherine Austin) who lived across the street in the house on the hill that would later become her home for more than 65 years. Vernice knew everyone on the block and in the community. Lately her newest neighbors referred to her as the neighborhood historian. For many years Vernice served as a volunteer for the voting precinct stationed at Cleveland High School. Vernice attended Hosford Grade School where she developed many friendships that stood the test of time. Jene Goldhammer has been her longest and dearest friend along with Diane, Darlene, both Delores’, Jeanette, Colleen and Cleve, who met while at Hosford and/or later during High School at Commerce/Cleveland and continued their friendships by getting together for lunch about once a month. While in High School Vernice worked as a dental assistant and later as an accounting clerk at Meyer & Frank. Those jobs taught her how to handle money and served her in later years in taking care of the family business. Vernice met what would become the love of her life and husband on the 4th of July 1951 and would marry August 16,1952 to start a family. Vernice and Al had two boys, Bill born in 1954 and Ron two years later in 1956. During those early years of a family with Al coaching and teaching, Vernice sold Avon to supplement their income while being a home maker and raising their family. Family was important as Vernice had support of her parents, Al’s Grandmother Mary Barclay, Aunt Jean Barclay, Frank & Janet Simpson, along with her parents Mary & Bill Hoy. As time marched on Vernice became the care giver for all of her relatives including her beloved Al. As Al was promoted to head coaching responsibilities at Marshall High and the boys participated in Cleveland High sports for all seasons it wasn’t uncommon for Vernice to prepare meals sometime 3 times a night and still made it to each son’s sporting events, and Al’s sometimes too. When Bill playing for Cleveland played against Al’s Marshall teams Vernice would find herself sitting in the middle of the bleachers to stay neutral. After the boys had graduated and out of the house and soon after Al retired the two took on purchasing several beach houses. They would plan and remodel them doing a lot of work themselves while maintaining and remodeling & redecorating their Portland home and garden. They both loved working in all their yards which were beauties to behold. Vernice loved her flowers and garden art. She would often say she would have like to been a designer or builder had she had the opportunity. Vernice also had taken up toll painting in the 70’s and enjoyed the artwork she created. As Bill and Ron started their families Vernice became Grandmother to Bill’s sons Bryce & Brad (Mother Cindy) bonus stepson Chris Mitchell (Mother Michelle), to Ron’s sons Scott (Mother Mary) & Colton (Mother Susan), daughter Stacy (Mother Mary), and Great Grandmother to Scott’s daughter Alexia (Mother Jamie) and son Tyler (Mother Kristina) and Stacy’s 3 kids Haley, Kyle & Kaitlinn, and Great Grandmother to Colton’s daughter Rylin. After Al’s passing, she bravely moved forward alone without the love of her life. She continued with the yard, the beach houses and kept the family stories alive. It’s symbolic that in the end, her 85 year old heart gave out, it was broken and she missed her beloved Al, she was ready to go to join him. Vernice was many things but most memorable she was a talker! That was one thing you couldn’t escape, whether family, neighbor, friend or casual acquaintance. Now she’s gone, the “giant silence” is so strange, the room is empty without her voice and we miss her. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday February 17, 2020 at Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial @ 1:00 PM. Address is 6705 SE 14th Avenue (Sellwood) Portland, OR Donations can be made to the American Heart Association