Ray Simpson

Leonard Raymond (Ray) Simpson of Granger, Indiana passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the age of 92. He was born on March 29, 1930, in Florence, AL to Lonis and Sarya Eva (Gray) Simpson. On October 27, 1951, in Tennessee he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Clara Elaine Haddock.

Ray worked and retired from General Motors in Flint, Michigan with 40 years of service as a die setter. He loved working on cars, spending time in his yard and tending to his garden. His hands were rarely still. In Flint, he attended Great Lakes Baptist church and Grace Bible Baptist church and especially liked his time driving and maintaining the buses for them.  More recently, he was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church of Niles, MI. His greatest joy came from spending time with his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. He loved to tease, joke, sing silly songs, and take grandkids fishing. He loved and served the Lord. He loved his family and friends well and would give all he had to be sure they were ok.  

Ray is survived by his beautiful wife of 71 years, Elaine; his son, Travis (Joan) Simpson of Livingston, TN; daughters, Deborah (Ray)Talbot of Byron, MI, and Kim (Steve) Gundy of Granger, IN.  He leaves behind 9 grandchildren; Jenny (Steve) Meyer, Josh Simpson, Sarah (Jaemi) Ledford, Ashley White, Walt (Rachael) Talbot, Katie Talbot (Bill Trapp), Austin (Jenna) Bentley, Aubri Gundy, and Bryce Gundy. He leaves behind 18 great grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Homer (Linda) Simpson of Dunlap, TN. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Lonis, and Sarya Eva; sisters, Helen Simpson, Virginia Haddock, Mildred Haddock, and Myrtle Lou Frank; brothers, Howard Simpson, William Simpson, and Jackie Perkins.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Palmer Funeral
Home – Bubb chapel, 3910 N. Main St. Mishawaka, IN. Friends may visit with the family on
Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and again on Thursday, one hour prior
to service time at the funeral home. Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Evergreen Cemetery in Flint, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ray’s honor to Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of
Northern Indiana, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Ct, South Bend, IN 46637.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.