Simpson, Jo (Josephine Heald), 1937-2011

Biography

Simpson, Josephine H. 'Jo' 74 March 20, 1937 Aug. 26, 2011 Jo passed away in Portland at age 74. Born Josephine Anne Heald in Brush, Colo., to Archie Lynn Heald and Wilena Mae Barker Heald, Jo's family eventually settled in Milton-Freewater, Ore., where she graduated from McLoughlin High School. Active in 4H, she attended summer camps at Oregon State University. Jo attended Willamette University, and on the day of her graduation with a degree in journalism she married Robert Glenn "Bob" Simpson of Ashland, Ore. They settled in Portland where Bob started his law career. Jo gave the term "homemaker" the greatest possible meaning. Not only did she give birth to three children, but she also canned food, made meals from scratch, utilized her green thumb in vegetable and flower gardens galore, and supervised three different additions to the home that she and Bob bought in 1961 and have lived in ever since. Later she lent the same expertise to a beach house they bought in Pacific City, Ore. Active outside the home for most of her life, Jo volunteered for numerous parent and student organizations at Riverdale School and attended nearly every activity in which her children participated. In addition, she was instrumental in the creation of Tryon Creek State Park, lending her energy and organizational skills to Friends of Tryon Creek. She was also on the board of the Mann Home in Portland. Her many years of helping with Republican political campaigns culminated with her own successful run for the Oregon State Legislature, where she served as a representative in the 1979-1980 session. After her children left home, Jo took on a family history project for Bob's family, transcribing 52 small hand-written books that were the diaries of relatives. - See more at: http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?pid=153468768#sthash.HoXFDKup.dpuf

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