Nelda Jean Gambrell Simpson Rutledge passed away April 19, 2018 at Focused Care in Sherman, Texas. Jean was born September 29, 1926, in Princeton, Texas, to Cecil and Nola Gambrell. She married JD (Pete) Simpson on May 13, 1944. They lived in Westminster where they raised three children, Larry, Paula, and Cindy until Pete passed away on June 9, 1979. Jean later married Wayne Rutledge on October 18, 1986. He preceded her in death on January 26, 1998.
Jean lived her adult life in Westminster. Her loves in life included her three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, and other family and friends. Jean was not a person who traveled or spent time away from home. She loved sitting at home watching the world go by looking out her window. Jean enjoyed talking on the phone with her phone buddies, Joyce, BIllie, Nellie, Sue, Jewel, Louella, and others. She loved talking with her children and grandchildren especially Crista and Monica. Jean loved cooking especially fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and chocolate and coconut pies with three inch meringues. She loved her cats, dogs, and goats. When Jean was younger, she loved to dance. Later in life, camping was a favorite thing to do. She loved people and they loved her back with that “smile”. Jean could be sassy at times.
She is survived by her son, Larry and Jimmie Simpson of Sherman; daughter, Cindy Cowling of Anna; grandchildren, Kevin Simpson and wife, Angie of Pottsboro, Kyle Hendricks and wife, Trish of Owasso, Oklahoma; Crista Cowling and Scott Allison, also of Anna, Gary Don Hendricks, and wife, Kendra of Celina; Monica Cowling and Stephen Stratton of Whitewright; great-grandchildren, Landon Simpson, Kason and Katie Blair Hendricks, Aubrey Grace Hendricks, Regan Stratton, Kristen Hobbs, and Charlie; sister, Frieda Whitt of Austin; and step-daughter, Judy Montgomery of McKinney.
She was preceded in death by her parents, both of her husbands, step-mother, Lucy Gambrell, her precious daughter, Paula Hendricks, brother, Thomas Gambrell, aunt, Joyce Means, sons-in-law, Ben Cowling, stepson, Earl Wayne Rutledge, as well as other aunts and uncles.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to Focused Care and Hospice of Sherman and McKinney Healthcare in McKinney for the care they provided for Jean.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Elm Grove Cemetery in Anna, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen. Texas.