Jerdie F. Simpson

Jerdie Ferguson Simpson, 83, passed away Friday, March 6, 2015, with her family at her side. Mrs. Simpson was born in Swain County and was the daughter of the late Luther W. and Maude J. Ferguson, and she was married to the late Thomas W. Simpson. She received her Masters degree in Education from Western Carolina University and spent her career as an educator in North Carolina. Mrs. Simpson was a creative teacher who came from a five-generation family of educators. She encouraged and touched the lives of many students during her years of teaching at Sand Hill Elementary School. She loved to travel, read and creatively write. Mrs. Simpson was a member of Enka Baptist Church and taught the Esther Sunday school class for many years. She was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Iota Sorority for teachers. She served on the board of the North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees' Association and was a member of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel Organization. Surviving are two daughters, Brenda S. Taylor and husband, Randy of Candler, NC and Sharon S. Purcell and husband, Bob of Hendersonville, NC; grandchildren, Thomas S. Taylor of Atlanta, GA, J. Alex Taylor of Candler, NC, Caroline Purcell Sutton and husband Matt of Arden, NC, Meredith A. Purcell of Raleigh, NC, Robert W. Purcell, III of Hendersonville, NC; and one great grandchild. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. G. Scott Lynch officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Enka Baptist Church, PO Box 219, Enka, NC 28728.