Mary Lee Simpson was born in Barton, New York, and grew up with her three sisters and brother in Owego, New York. She and her first child, Mark, and the rest of the family followed her oldest brother, Dennis, to Mineola, Texas in December of 1959. 

She spent the rest of her life living in the East Texas area, where she remarried and had four more children. She became a nurse in 1982, and nursing was her job and vocation for the rest of her life. Highlights of her career in nursing were working at Terrell State Hospital, East Texas Medical Center, and then doing home health care until she retired. She was especially close to the families of W.A. and Ruby Talley, and their child T.K. They were her second family. Her other adopted family was the Grundy family and their daughter, Sara. June, Sara’s mother says that Mary Lee was her children's grandmother, as well as their nurse. 

After retiring, Mary Lee worked for several years at the Granary health food store in Lindale, Texas, where she also felt like her coworkers were family, especially her friend, Tat Tomes. Mary Lee lived for many years in Red Springs Texas on her farm with her loving husband, Cecil Simpson. After his passing, she sold their farm and moved to Tyler to be closer to friends and family. 

She passed away unexpectedly at the home of friends in Lindale, Texas on Sunday, October 16th, 2022. 

On Monday, October 24th, her viewing and funeral services will be at her beloved church, Rise Again Baptist Church, in Tyler, Texas, where she loved playing the piano, and had many close friends. Viewing will be from 1 to 2pm, and the funeral service from 2 to 3pm given by her pastor, Walter Jones. The funeral service will be followed by a meal and fellowship.

Mary will then be cremated and her ashes spread by her children. 

Mary was proceeded in death by her husband Cecil Simpson, her sister Sylvia Saxby, and her brother Dennis Root.

She is survived by her children David Lang, Timothy Lang, Lewis Lang, Mary L Nichols, and Mark Nichols. She is also survived by her sisters Katie Urella and Maray Adams, and her fiancé, Frank Ellison.