Jean Parsley Simkins, a member of the Waterman Village community in Mount Dora
Florida for 10 years, died on Wednesday August 10th at Waterman Hospital.
Jean was born in 1928 in Cleveland Ohio. Her parents were David L. Johnson and
Frances Jane Rayner Johnson. She was the beloved sister of W. Rayner, Margaret Jane,
M. Blake and David L. Johnson (all deceased). Jean graduated from Laurel School and
then Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She returned to Cleveland and graduated
from the Bolton School of Nursing at Case-Western Reserve University in 1950. Shortly
after completing her studies, Jean married Kenneth M. Parsley, Jr, and they raised five
children. He predeceased her in 1992. In 1994 Jean married Q. William Simkins, who
predeceased her in 2010.
Jean lived in many places during her adult life, including Cleveland OH, Tuscaloosa AL,
Severna Park MD, San Juan PR, Delray Beach FL, New Smyrna Beach FL and Mount
Dora FL. Jean decorated and transformed many a house into a home.
Jean loved her family, friends and animals. Many remember Jean walking her Westies
Dougal and Lola. She will be remembered as a happy soul and infected others with her
joy of life. She loved a good adventure, too. At 82 she took a hot air balloon ride. She
traveled across the US and Canada and in Europe. She greatly enjoyed playing sports.
She was an avid golfer, organizing and playing in tournaments and with several holes-in
one to her credit. Jean also enjoyed family games of croquet and ping-pong. In
addition, she enjoyed her bridge groups at Waterman Village.
In April Jean celebrated her birthday in Baltimore MD with her children and
grandchildren. A highlight was a birthday dinner at Restaurante Tio Pepe, harking back
to the family tradition of celebrating important graduations at this restaurant.
She is survived by her five children: Patricia E. Parsley(James Snodgrass), Wendy Parsley
Haupt(Roy), Leslie Parsley Alspaugh(Terrence), M. Blake Parsley, and Catherine Parsley
East and 11 grandchildren. Also surviving are Bill Simkins' 3 daughters Leslie Linton, Lisa
Barnes and Laurie Simkins, 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Humane Society of the US
(http://www.humanesociety.org/about/?credit=web_id347404142 ), Guiding Eyes for
the Blind(https://www.guidingeyes.org/ways-to-help/online/), and Hospice . Friends
may also donate to Waterman Village (http://www.watermanvillage.com/gifts )
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the Garden of Life Chapel,
Waterman Village, Mount Dora Florida on Saturday August 20th at 2PM. Allan Jones,
Chaplain, will lead the service.